jump up and down

one more week...

So, the sewing room is not totally clean yet, but it's time to come back and get back in the swing of things.  Cleaning is number one on the to do list this week, so hopefully I'll come back with those before and after pics that a few of you requested.  I did take the befores and if I post them, you have to promise not to judge - mess doesn't really describe the state of the room, disaster would be more like it.

I've had a lovely little break full of a couple of jaunts away, some fun sewing, a few days where we didn't get dressed until noon, and lots of summer enjoyment.  Peter will be going to a new pre-school starting next week with a new morning time and it's four days a week.  No more lounging around or sleeping in.  Time to get with the program, so we are enjoying now!

And I'll be starting something new too - I'm going to be a taking a couple of night classes at our local university.  This is something that I've been thinking and praying about for a long time and the time is right.  I got the wrong degree when I went to college the first time and I knew it about a year before I finished, but I was so close to finishing and a change seemed like a rash move at the time so I didn't do it and I've spent the last eight and especially the last five years regretting it.  I have a biology degree and I even worked in the field for over five years, possibly just to prove to myself that I really do need to go back to school.  I loved getting my biology degree and found all that I learned fascinating, but I came to realize that most of the jobs in this field are lacking in one thing that I really need and want in a job - people interaction.  So, I'm going to start working towards a nursing degree - just on the pre-reqs right now and nursing school in a year or two.  I'm very excited, a little nervous, but mostly just so glad to have all the support I am receiving, especially from Ryan, to do this.

I'm not sure what this will mean for the blog, but I do hope to keep it going and I will definitely still be sewing and crafting at least a little bit and with the kids, so I'm sure there will be plenty of blog fodder.  It will just have to be something that I'm going to have to figure out as it goes.  As for the shop, that's also something that I hope to keep going, although I do know I won't be able to keep it up at current productivity levels.  The money I make from the shop pays for Peter's speech therapy co-pays and for me to get my hair done (I started going gray at 18 and after two kids, I am probably about 50% gray on top - it's so not fair, but that's how it is), both things that need to keep happening, so I hope I can keep it up.  Also, if you had any thoughts of having me make something to put under your Christmas tree or a stocking for your mantel, you will probably want to e-mail me ASAP and get your order in as finals are a week and a half before Christmas.

And for the rest of this week, I have a few pics of what I did while I was gone: a few projects, a couple of finds, and some summer fun!

more little ladies

 

I started this post with good intentions, but I'm so tired right now that I'm just going to post these in a very minimal style. I've been up late way too much in the last week, I ran 8 miles on Saturday, and it's just worn me out. 

Here's the lowdown - three new dolls, one already with a home to be loved by my friend's daughter who is turning one this week, and two new outfits for the doll for the very special one year old.  The two others should be in the shop shortly.  And if you already have a little lady doll and would like more outfits, contact me.  Hope you all had a great weekend! 

And for those of you who are interested, Logan, my friend's little guy is doing so well!  He came home from the hospital on Friday and his recovery is coming along at a truly miraculous rate.  Thank you so much for your prayers and positive thoughts!

update

 

 
I stayed up late last night and left all sorts of windows open on my browser that were one click away from listing my item in Etsy. Then this morning, I got up and clicked away and voila, it's all in my shop now! The verdict is still out on whether I like this way or the one or two item at a time update. I'll let you know!

in progress

I've been busy around here - the shop update with new banners, aprons, and checkbook covers will be on Thursday, hopefully in the morning.   New purses and bags will have to wait until next time, hopefully not more than two or three weeks.  I got a little carried away with the banners and didn't quite make it to bags. 

And in the meantime we'll be enjoying some fabulous weather, finally!  The boys are enjoying some outside time, having a hard time falling asleep at night since it's light out until 10, and finally wearing their summer clothes (the winter cloths had to last too long and were getting too short, too tight, and too full of holes). 

a little business

 I finally finished the huge wedding order I've been working on for the last little while!  Hooray!  I made up a ton of these banners and ten table squares from some of the same fabrics.  It's been an learning experience doing this order.  I don't think it's the kind of thing I would want to do all the time - it's nice to do smaller projects that don't take as much time before you get that sense of accomplishment, but this was nice for a change and it will bring a nice chunk of change all at once too.

As a consequence of this ginormo order, I have been seriously neglecting my shop.  But, that's OK because it's giving me the opportunity to try out something that I've wanted to do for a while - the one time large shop update method.  Previously, I would just try to put a couple of new things in the shop every week and then relist things so I always had something at the top of the searches.  I actually think this is the best way to attract new buyers to your shop - just keep listing or re-listing one or two items a day to keep your items at the top of searches and give more opportunity for new people to see your shop.  The downside of this is that you are constantly going - there's never really any downtime unless you make it for yourself by slowing down.  I'm hoping the shop update will allow me a little downtime right after the update, at least for a week or so where I'm only doing computer work and shipping.  I'm not sure if I like this way, but I wanted to try and I thought the timing was right.

So, I'm hoping to do this shop update sometime next week.  I have my first set of items finished for it - these checkbook covers.   They went together fairly easily and I'm loving the little bit of patchwork that I worked into some of them and the use of a bit of my vintage ribbons on the others.  I like using my vintage trims on small items like this - I still have some left so I don't feel like I've run out of it.  And now I'm moving on to a whole bunch of pennant banners - some with fabrics that you've seen before and some with entirely new fabrics.  I'll also be doing a few birthday banners - one that will be for Mique (no I haven't forgotten you!) who won my birthday giveaway a while ago.  I think I'll just keep going until I feel like updating - hopefully I'll have a few aprons and bags too.  I guess I've got a lot of work to do in the next little bit!  And tomorrow I'll be back with Kid's Craft - see a preview of what we'll be doing here.     

new

First, a new technique learned - the rolled hem on the serger.  And it wasn't nearly as daunting as I thought it would be - I just followed the directions in the manual and voila, it worked!  These are the tablecloths for that big wedding order that I'm doing and the rolled hem was so so helpful here. 

Each one of these is 80" square and it took me less than 10 minutes to get around - a bit over an hours for all of them.  Can you imagine if I'd had to actually iron the hem and then stitch in in place?  It would have taken hours and hours!  I'm officially recommending this serger  and saving my pennies for my own.  This one is a Janome of some sort - my Mom bought it late last summer, so the exact model might still be available.  E-mail me if you want the details.

 And second, my friend Mel and I just got our new fabrics in - a little more Amy Butler from her Lotus collection.  I haven't talked about it much here because I try not to make the blog one big advertisement for my etsy shops (yes shops - I have three - how did that happen?  Etsy is a little addictive I guess.), but Mel and I do this little fabric shop together - little meaning we only get new fabrics every few months.  We met at church and then discovered that we were both sewing handmade items to sell so we decided to start buying fabric together too.  Anyway, we just got a new set of fabrics in - I have this fat quarter set of everything we got listed right now and I'll get everything else listed in the next few days, but there is yardage available of all of the individual fabrics - convo or e-mail me if you're interested. 

the little ladies

Ahhh...the little ladies and I made some sweet progress last night and  I finished them up last night.  And here they are - ready for your next tea party, picnic, or just for a nice hug.  Look for them in the shop later today.  If you'd like to claim one for your own before then, send me a line via e-mail.

moving right along

I'm making good progress on my sixteen bags.  These three are already in the shop and I finished two others last night.  I'm hoping to get a good start on two more tonight.  This is going as well as could be expected - just the right amount of work to keep me busy without overwhelming me.  That's just how I like it.

And while I stitch away at my purses, here are a few links you might enjoy:

Wondertime Printables:  A picnic, a farm, a garden, and a kitty all ready to download, print, cut, and play!

The Crafty Crow:  You may have seen this one already -  a new Kid's Craft blog by Cassie of Bella Dia.  Lots of ideas for crafts with kids.  I think we may have to stage a scavenger hunt soon and make our own chia pet!  I'm excited to use these ideas this summer. 

Sparkle Power Sew Along:  A new sew along group started by Candace of Sparkle Power.  March is potholders and table runners (I have a good idea for my potholders - I hope I find some time to do them) and April-May will be clothing and accessories.

CraftPad:  My favorite new blog - this is where I found the Wondertime Printables.  Take a look at this mail set and play house - my kids would love a play house like that!

Happy creating everyone!   

the piles

Thanks everyone for all of your sympathy and well wishes yesterday!  The day got better, we survived, there were no more accidents, and we even all got a nap.  That happens about once a month now that we have a no-napper.  It was nice.  And today the outlook is brighter and I'm facing my piles.

I just finished dealing with a pile of these that I've been putting off for a week or so. (I really need to do something about that checkbook cover, don't I?)

I have a pile of arms, legs, bodies, and fabric for dresses on my sewing machine cabinet.  I'm working on these whenever I get the fancy to and hopefully there will be some dolls in the shop sometime in the future.

And I turned my pile of fabric into this last night - sixteen purses and totes cut out.   Yes, that's right, sixteen!  I even did all the pockets, linings, and interfacings.  I was up way too late/early doing it, but I'm a feast or famine type of girl and last night was definitely a cutting feast.  Last time I did this (and only cut out 11), with interruptions (it was Christmas time) it took me three months to get them all finished.  I'm hoping without the distraction of Christmas, I'll be a little quicker this time.

I also bought a whole pile of this fabric for a custom order at Cia's Palette last night.  I've never used Cia's before, but I love that they had the whole collection and every piece that I wanted.  Plus, I spent over $50 so shipping was free.   If it all comes quickly and safely, I'll be completely pleased.

And my never-ending pile - and I actually don't mind it as much as I probably should.  To me, it just means that there's been some fun and games going on.

into mischief

Ned has definitely got spunk.  Maybe it's all that red hair.  Here he is thinking he's the funniest thing ever sharing a carrot with Ryan.  If you've ever heard me describe him, words I often use are sassy, mind of his own, mischievous, independent,  spirited...I think you get the idea.

So, this led to our first tattle tell moment this morning.  One of the advantages of having a speech delayed kid (this one is right up there with the fact that Peter didn't say no* until he was over 2 1/2) is that these negative aspects of speech are delayed as well.  Peter's never been frustrated by his speech delay, so I'd have to say that overall it hasn't been too bad.  Anyway, back to the tattling - this morning Peter came up to me and said, "pretzels in bathroom!"  I said, "What?" and went to look and found pretzels all over the kitchen floor, along with a bowl of cereal and crumbs of what had been a muffin.   To Peter's credit there was one pretzel in the bathroom - they had made it that far.  And when I asked Peter who had done it, he obliged with a "Ned did it."  So, there you have it.  Peter can now tattle about the mischief Ned has done.  I'm not sure if I want to know...

And on the crafting front, I just finished this fun "Happy Birthday" banner for one of our friends from California (it's so hard to take a good picture of these things - they are so long!).  She's got kid birthdays coming up in April, so it'll be there in plenty of time for the celebrations.  This was a fun thing to put together with all of its colorful fabrics and I actually ended up make a couple more - one is in the shop and the other will be there sometime in the next few days.  I've got to start thinking about our own birthdays here - Peter's will be here in just a couple of weeks - must get planning!

*just noticed this was a major typo - it's not know, it's no.