Sewing my tooshie off

Well not literally.

I get nervous before a show, especially one I haven't done before. I have that jittery, sweaty armpit feeling. The good thing is, jittery means energy. The bad thing is I have sweaty armpits.

Here's what I've been working on.

I made a fun funky chicken bag.

Yep, the chicken is a pocket.

A couple of green patchworks.

I sold out of my skull bags at the last show....

so I made a few more.

Now you may be asking yourself what is a rapidly approaching middle age, bordering frumpy, farm lovin gal is doing making skull bags.

I got a skull remnant and chopped off the heads, it's like playing paper dolls except with fabric and they sell. Plus they are fun to make.

I also found this cub scout shirt at the thrift shop, so I made another bag.

This fabric was from the line of Anna Maria Horner fat quarters I bought in October. http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/ I couldn't bear to chop it up so I just quilted the flower and used more of her fabric for the bottom and back. I pieced the tote handles and used...

Linda Lum Debono fabric that she sent me last month, thanks again Linda, http://lindalumdebono.blogspot.com/, for the lining inside. I added my label and it's ready to go.

Now I like the bags I make, otherwise I wouldn't be able to make them. Sometimes though I end up making a bag, intending on selling it and I just can't. I WANT TO KEEP THIS ONE! It is speaking to me.

It also goes with the scarf I made last year.

This is bad, I NEED to sell things, not keep them.

Money vs. New Bag, hmmm.

The kids may end up with an imaginary Christmas this year.

Fabric stores are dangerous

On Friday I went to Joann's just to pick up one thing. ONE THING!

I usually just walk past the brown tone fabrics but for some reason this polka dot caught my eye.

I saw a llama in it. Can you see it? Look close.

Closer.

Now can you see it?

I had to get fabrics that went with this spotted beauty.

I wonder what I see in this pile?

Yep, fabric stores are dangerous.

Back to our regular scheduled programing

I am so happy that spell check is back! I've been having to dumb down my vocabulary while writing (not by much mind you) because I am not confident in my spelling and going and getting the dictionary seems like so much work.

I told myself no blogging, reading or writing until I finished sewing something. I start something, get distracted, the phone, laundry, computer, passing butterfly, whatever. Then some new fabric calls to me and I am left with unfinished work. I got some new stuff in the mail and I am not letting it distract me!

When I do anyting artsy fartsy it usually has a cartoonish edge. It drove the instructor in this drawing class i went to nuts, Oh well. So I am drawn to colorful, fun, sometimes kid related in the fabrics I choose. I had to have the frogs! And the Heather Ross fabrics are so charming and sweet and sooooo soft. You my darlings will have to wait.
I had been looking for heather Ross fabric locally for quite some time, no luck, found these at plumtickledfabrics.etsy.com/ She's nice and helpful for someone new to buying online and the prices even including shipping are comparable to my local quilt shops.

So today I actually finished a bag for the Teacher Conference. See it's all teachery.

See what I mean about my vocabulary.

and teachery tissue packs

on the tissue pack rack!

We were hit with about 6 more inches of snow, so I'm off a' shovelin.

Spell check isn't happy to be back here.

I'm a very busy woman....

....and I haven't got all day.


- Ursella from Disneys The Little Mermaid



I figured I'd give until the end of the weekend to pick the drawing winner to give the weekend blog checkers a chance. I still don't know what I'm sending yet.





I have a busy weekend planned. Tonight's and early birthday party for my Dad who will be out of town on his actual birthday. The boy has a Science Olympiad thingy all day tomorrow (i'll bring knitting). I need to fit more sewing in, if this show isn't successful it will be my own darn fault. (Teacher convention show)



I'll answer a few comment questions here since I'm not the best at replying to all comments.

First I can't figure out how you get peoples e-mail addresses.

And I love comments and love giving comments but if I leave a "how cute" or other short comment not asking a question, I don't expect a reply. Do you? I'm not sure whats proper.

But please know that comments can truly make my day.



yaroslavna asked if my dog was a border collie- yep, I've gone on and on about my pup in the past so I wont bore you with more than that.



apron thrift girl asked if my gold chicken was a Buff Orpington- nope, she is a Golden Comet. (named Blackbeak) They are a red link sex breed, I think between a Rhode Island Red and a Leghorn. The first year I got chicks, I waited too long in the season to order any and a mill a couple towns over only had the Golden Comets left, they were a few weeks old by then so I got them on sale, Yay! She is a sweetie and a reliable layer. She is the last one of six that hasn't become lunch for someone else. Hawks, foxes, possums, racoons.... I lose less girls now with our watch dog and a more secure coop, but with free range hens there are always risks.



queeniep asked what do I use my fabrics for- I make purses and tote bags mostly. I love sewing and make pretty much everyting fabric related in my home. Quilts, curtains, slipcovers, and such. About 4 1/2 years ago I was carrying a purse I'd made and a woman who happend to be a promoter to a craft show asked if I had enough inventory to do a show. I lied and said yes, 6 weeks later I had over 50 bags for the show, had a blast and made some $$. My kids were at the full time school age and I got sick of the "what do you do?" question, like managing your family, home and finances isn't enough. I sold some of my bags at an art gallery before they closed and now I average about 6 art/craft shows per year, hoping to sell more of them on my etsy shop. I love doing the shows, it isn't a way to make big $$ for me, but I love being around other artists, and the feedback I get from people is wonderful. I also get the benefits of being home for sick kid days, dinner is hot and waiting for my family and I get to do something I love while still in my pajammas. It also is a good excuse for my fabric addiction.



Speaking of fabrics and sewing, last year I had made a bag lady series, they sold out and i have requests for more so this is what I have been working on. Fridays WIP.

I do the cutting, fusing, and ironing first.

I'll stitch around the pieces to make them secure and to make the faces bolder.

I'm inspired by Piacasso.

I'll show you them when they're done.

My spell check hasn't been working, computers confuse me, I'm not sure what to do, so if I spelled anything wrong, forgive me.

I'm sending prayers out to those families affected by the tornados.

Have a safe weekend!

Latest Bag

I made this chick bag last evening.

I used some of the black fabric I bought the other day. There's a pink button for the eye.
I love the vibrant colors with the black chick.

When I get a minute or 40 I'll load it on etsy. I figured for about every 5 bags I make for my shows, I'll put one in my shop. Also I'm not sure how a bag with a chicken on it will sell at a teacher conference.

I put 4 pockets inside. This is the cell phone pocket.

The chick is even a pocket.

I think I need to make one for me, maybe in green.

Thrifty Tuesday

What do you do on a gray rainy Tuesday when you're not feeling creative and cleaning is out of the question?

Go Thrifting!

I went to the PTO Thrift Shop, Goodwill and Value World. I found such treasures.

Knitting Nancys.

This cute smock. I can't tell if its homemade or not due to the perfect sewing and lack of tag.

Yarn. These looked dreamy and it looks like someone hand spun them. There was even more there in other colors but they were $5 a bag and my funds were meager. I am a new knitter with limited skills so I'm not sure what to do with them.

For my shows, I display my items on white painted metal screens and stands. I'll need to paint it white but for $5.99, it had to come home with me.

Its almost 5 feet tall and with 6 shelves I'll be able to fill it with gobs of tissue packs freeing up my table for other items.

More sheets and pillowcases. The red is destined to be ripped up and put in my rug and the others will make great totes!

More cute napkins destined to be small purses. They'll make great bags for weddings.

I had to stop at JoAnn Fabrics and this fun fabric was on sale.

Its called "Bow Wow Chow Mein". I got the last 2 1/2 yards on the bolt.

There wasn't a companion fabric to go with it so I found the animal print that looks pretty good for the bag lining, pockets and handles.

My girl is insisting at least one bag will go to her.

Close up view. I love those dogs.

I also found the boy a rumble robot and the girl a pom pon maker and finger puppet.

Not a bad day off. Tomorrow back to work!

Christmas re-cap

Warning this may become long and boring. I hope not too much.

Santa Rat Face. Not my best photo but the girl wanted you to see it.

I've been wanting to blog about my Wii experience but I didn't want my kids to find out about a gift early.
I want to start by saying, I am not one of those people who latch onto the latest holiday toy craze, become insane, and do insane things. USUALLY.
My son wanted a Wii last year, no way budget wise and there was no way I was standing in line with all the living in their parents basement with no responsibilities 20 something boys who need the latest electronic. So when my son asked again this year and his sister agreed to share it with him to split the cost per kid, I thought this is do-able. My kids are great kids, polite, help when asked, put up with my wait until it goes on sale, wait until it's at the dollar movies etc.. So this year I wanted to give them a something cool that they didn't have to wait years after all of their friends have one gifts.
So I went and stood in line at Toys-R-Us around 6:15, the Sunday after Thanksgiving. I was #26, they had 25. The following Sunday 4:30 and I was probably 50th in line. What a joke. The third Sunday I arrived 2:20am was 20th in line, they had 19. CRAP! I was cold, tired and beat down. Slept half the day away because mind you they don't tell you they only have 19 until 6am.

Sunday #4 they were predicting a Blizzard, I was sick and wasn't going no matter what. Around 11pm I get a wild hair, grab a sleeping bag, lawn chair, a few more blankets and some hand and foot warmers, determined those bastards weren't getting the best of me! (insanity) I was #4 in line, hunkered down in my little Sleeping bag cave and braved the night and storm. Every couple hours I would shake a few inches of snow off of me and I learned the hand and foot warmers only last about 4 hours. I was cold, exhausted, and even sicker (is that a word?), but triumphant!



My kids knew nothing because I left after they were asleep and got home before they got up. They love the Wii and love me. I proved to myself I am one Bad Mamma Jamma, but NEVER AGAIN!

Christmas Eve we went to my mom in laws party.

My niece loved her sock monster and loved the gift bag even more. I'd ask her were her sock monster was and in her sweet little 2year old voice say "In my bag". So cute.

I had made Great Grandpa a huge pot of split pea soup, his fave and homemade. Then put it in single serve containers and froze it. Filled a grocery bag which my daughter decorated. He loved it. He says no one ever makes split pea anymore. Now he can just zap some whenever he wants. I also kept the ham bone from the party and promised refills.

We got home that night and a wonderful package was waiting for me. I had won a mini bundle (mini my eye) of fabric from this talented fabric designer and author. You can check out her blog and web at http://www.lindalumdebono.com/ . Such kindness and such talent. Thank you so much. I love them.

I made 2 lunch bags today using her beautiful fabrics.

We also have a tradition of making sugar cookies.

My daughters style is to cover them with as much frosting and sprinkles as possible.

Hubbie and son teamed up for Homer and Marge.

My job is to frost what is left after the fam gets bored.

We got spoiled, ate too much, laughed a ton and had a wonderful time.

I wasnt going to post...

....but I was taking a little break from sewing and looked to see what kb over at http://apatchworkworld.blogspot.com/ was up to and I glanced over and she has me on her links. This thrills me to no end!!! She makes these amazing things out of old needlepoint and such. And that I am one of the people she has on her blogs I love list is so exciting.

I love this community!



I was telling my hubbie how I used to feel so alone. I didn't know anyone who even had a sewing machine let alone sewed who wasn't much much older. I would go into these quilt shops with my daughter and the older ladies treated me like the Golden Child who was going to be the only one to bring sewing to the next generation. Other moms at the school would look at me like I was growing a second head when I talked about making, baking or creating anything.



I felt like the only sewing, baking, chicken lovin, SUV driving, tomboy girl in the world. Now even though I don't know any of you personally, just knowing you are all out there makes me feel less alone.




Ok on a seprate note:


I went to the local quilt shop yesterday for some size 14 sewing machine needles and came home with the needles and $84 worth of fabric. Yikes!

I do have that giant show coming up and justify the purchase that way. i made 2 more bags and have 2 more started.

I'd better change out of my pj's because the bus is coming. A bra might be good too.

I love you guys! And thanks kb.

ps. We let Flutterby go on Saturday, it was nice and sunny and saw other butterflies in the yard.
Best wishes little friend.

New show, new sew

I have one more show scheduled for the year on November 10th and this one is a doozie. This show is in my community. It has been going on for 20 years. Has over 250 crafters and last year almost 10,000 people attended. This is an indoor show and goes from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm. Can you imagine that many people in our Middle School in that short of time? There are shuttle buses throughout town from many parking lots. There is a $3 entry fee and the proceeds help out our schools teams, clubs and youth programs. Crafters across the country are in this show. There is a huge wait list for vendors to get in. I happened to have luck on my side last year and got in the week before the show and had my most successful show there. So this year I am super geeked for this one.

If you want to get more info on the show you can go to www.salineshows.com

I was at a quilt shop and found a scrap pack of Heather Bailey Freshcuts.

Not only did I get a bargain but it also helps me grow and use some fabrics I may not have picked on my own. I found some complimentary fabrics at a JoAnn's to help stretch my treasured Heather Baileys.

So I made these today.

I don't usually use brown but I love with how it turned out.

I centered the flower on this one

For some reason I almost always get a shadow on my pictures. ???

Lets see how many more I can finish in a month.