A Sunday in September
Today was a great day. First I skyped with mum and dad for almost 2 hours. We caught up on what's been going on over the last couple of weeks and showed off our "new" sewing/craft rooms! Mum has had a sewing workroom for a number of years because she had a soft furnishings/upholstery business. Over the last few years, she wound down the business and is now sewing purely for pleasure so needed to update her room with a more casual but functional space. Dad cut down her once huge table and they moved around the sewing machine table and desk. Mum is gradually organizing all her quilting supplies, threads, fabrics, patterns etc into all the open shelves left from removing all the business notions and supplies. And when mum hangs her quilts on the walls it will make the space even more inviting.
I too have been reorganizing my craft room. I'm making more space for my scrapbooking and journaling. I now have an L shaped area with all my goodies readily available. I do still need to go to Ikea to get some shelving and maybe some kind of peg board or magnetic board and then I'll take some pics and show off my room.
Then after a quick lunch, I skyped with my Twinnee. We've decided to do The Documented Life Project which we found via Pinterest (no surprise there!). We're going to make our official start date for October 1st 2014. This will give us some prep time for our journals - we're using a composition notebook - and to gather any necessary supplies. I've found some great stuff in the dollar bins at Target, and Michael's always has lots to choose from in the Smash Book/Project Life area of the store. Plus it gives me time to mail a few things home as it's either too expensive in the UK or not yet available. In between visits from The Bean and Sissy, we got a lot of ideas from each other and are dying to get started! We're planning on skyping and working on our journals all at the same time. We figure that as we can't be together in person, then this is the next best thing!
I'm still knitting my baby blanket, but as my carpel tunnel has been bothering me it's taking a little longer than planned. It has to be ready by next Sunday as it's supposed to be a baby shower gift and the shower starts at noon!
I'm off to knit a couple of rows in front of the TV, so until next time...
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Striped Baby Blanket
Yesterday I went to Michael's and bought some yarn to knit a baby blanket. It's just going to be a simple garter stitch stripe in shades of blues and grays. I also bought a circular needle but after casting on and knitting the first row, I discovered that one of the points was rough and kept catching the yarn.
So I found a long pair of bamboo needles and continued on them.
But I didn't like how hard the yarn felt so I undid everything this morning and changed to a slightly larger needle!
Yesterday I went to Michael's and bought some yarn to knit a baby blanket. It's just going to be a simple garter stitch stripe in shades of blues and grays. I also bought a circular needle but after casting on and knitting the first row, I discovered that one of the points was rough and kept catching the yarn.
So I found a long pair of bamboo needles and continued on them.
But I didn't like how hard the yarn felt so I undid everything this morning and changed to a slightly larger needle!
It's going well and I hope to have the first colour finished today!
I'm still working on my granny squares - I'm about halfway through crocheting them into squares but I'm kind of bored with it at the moment! I do need to finish it because I want to put it in The Bean and Sissy's room upstairs. But that's for another day!
Until next time ...
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Summer Vacation
My parents arrived on the 1st of July for a two week vacation. Our plan was to spend as much time with our two grand daughters - The Bean and Sissy, float in the pool, build a small pergola at each end of the deck and do a little sewing and knitting! Well I can honestly say we accomplished it all! We went out a couple of times for coffee and cake and reading magazines at our local Starbucks inside Barnes and Noble! Mum and I caught up sharing all the things that we've made over the past year. Then we planned out what we wanted to do if we had time whilst we were together and went fabric shopping! We were able to cut out and start our zip purses - mum was making two for gifts, and mum cut out and sewed together a baby quilt (like the ones I made for Sissy and my craft show). She also knitted and felted a wool bag and made a knitted doll for Sissy. The doll has become a "requirement" for each of mum's grand daughters and great grand daughters! She first knitted the dolls for twinnee and I when we were tiny babies and has since knitted at least five more!
This is Dolly!
The very last thing we made together was a pair of boxer shorts for each of us to wear to bed! I bought the fabric from Joann Fabrics a few years ago to add to my stash!! We finished them the morning before they left!
Dad and hubby built my pergola which I absolutely love! Last time mum and dad were here, Dad and hubby built me a potting shed for my vegetable garden! I'm so lucky! I planted some climbing plants to grow up the pergola but don't think they'll get very high as we're halfway through the growing season but next year I'll be able to start them a lot earlier. We just have to put up my lights and we're done!
I haven't quite finished my zip purse yet but hope to get to it sometime this week. Until next time...
My parents arrived on the 1st of July for a two week vacation. Our plan was to spend as much time with our two grand daughters - The Bean and Sissy, float in the pool, build a small pergola at each end of the deck and do a little sewing and knitting! Well I can honestly say we accomplished it all! We went out a couple of times for coffee and cake and reading magazines at our local Starbucks inside Barnes and Noble! Mum and I caught up sharing all the things that we've made over the past year. Then we planned out what we wanted to do if we had time whilst we were together and went fabric shopping! We were able to cut out and start our zip purses - mum was making two for gifts, and mum cut out and sewed together a baby quilt (like the ones I made for Sissy and my craft show). She also knitted and felted a wool bag and made a knitted doll for Sissy. The doll has become a "requirement" for each of mum's grand daughters and great grand daughters! She first knitted the dolls for twinnee and I when we were tiny babies and has since knitted at least five more!
This is Dolly!
Dad and hubby built my pergola which I absolutely love! Last time mum and dad were here, Dad and hubby built me a potting shed for my vegetable garden! I'm so lucky! I planted some climbing plants to grow up the pergola but don't think they'll get very high as we're halfway through the growing season but next year I'll be able to start them a lot earlier. We just have to put up my lights and we're done!
I haven't quite finished my zip purse yet but hope to get to it sometime this week. Until next time...
Friday, August 1, 2014
Crochet Blanket
This is the first crocheted blanket I have ever made so it's a learn as you go project! I found the blanket on Pinterest (no surprise there!) at Three Beans in a Pod . I went to Joann Fabrics and chose 5 colours - 4 for the circles and 1 for the squares. I'm using Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) yarn that has 70% acrylic and 30% wool in it. You can make approximately 10 circles from one ball of yarn so I only bought one of each colour for the circles and two for the squares - hopefully that's enough because I bought it a while ago and I'm not sure my Joann's still carries it!!!
Here's my progress so far - the circles are pretty quick and easy to do.
This is the first crocheted blanket I have ever made so it's a learn as you go project! I found the blanket on Pinterest (no surprise there!) at Three Beans in a Pod . I went to Joann Fabrics and chose 5 colours - 4 for the circles and 1 for the squares. I'm using Vickie Howell Sheep(ish) yarn that has 70% acrylic and 30% wool in it. You can make approximately 10 circles from one ball of yarn so I only bought one of each colour for the circles and two for the squares - hopefully that's enough because I bought it a while ago and I'm not sure my Joann's still carries it!!!
Here's my progress so far - the circles are pretty quick and easy to do.
I just have a few more purples to go ...
And here is one of the turquoise circles made into a square with the green...
I hope to get started with the squares this weekend and then I can lay them out and decide how I want to put them together. Can't wait to get it finished
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
The Craft Show
So I stopped doing my updates because I was so busy trying to make everything as efficiently as I could, which meant doing all my sewing with one colour thread at a time before changing it to another colour and as a result nothing was actually getting finished until the very end. I guess looking back I should have posted pictures as I went and not worry that they weren't finished items. Anyway, I did really well making all that I wanted to make and even threw in a few extras!
The day before the Show I took off from work so I could do a quick mock up of my booth. L came over and helped me plan things out. In between nursing Sissy and entertaining The Bean we managed to make and tag everything, set up our imaginary booth (my stuff only as my friend Gayle was bringing hers to the Show )and take pictures so we could remember what to do the next day! M went off to the bank to get our "float" money and with Square arriving a few days before we were ready. Later that day hubby and I loaded the van and for the first time ever I had nothing to do before a show - usually I'm sewing well into the early hours of the morning but not this time!
The setup the next morning went quickly even though the humidity was awful and I actually sold something whilst we were still setting up! It turned out to be a really slow day as we'd had lots of rain the previous days and were forecast another storm later in the afternoon. Saturday was a little better. I had an order for a tent and sold enough to get my money back on the booth and then some. I don't think I'll do that show again and doubt I'll do anymore shows during the summer. I think people spend more nearer the holidays so I will probably stick to those kind of shows. But I will definitely organize myself the same way because that kept me on task and I was very productive.
So I stopped doing my updates because I was so busy trying to make everything as efficiently as I could, which meant doing all my sewing with one colour thread at a time before changing it to another colour and as a result nothing was actually getting finished until the very end. I guess looking back I should have posted pictures as I went and not worry that they weren't finished items. Anyway, I did really well making all that I wanted to make and even threw in a few extras!
The day before the Show I took off from work so I could do a quick mock up of my booth. L came over and helped me plan things out. In between nursing Sissy and entertaining The Bean we managed to make and tag everything, set up our imaginary booth (my stuff only as my friend Gayle was bringing hers to the Show )and take pictures so we could remember what to do the next day! M went off to the bank to get our "float" money and with Square arriving a few days before we were ready. Later that day hubby and I loaded the van and for the first time ever I had nothing to do before a show - usually I'm sewing well into the early hours of the morning but not this time!
The setup the next morning went quickly even though the humidity was awful and I actually sold something whilst we were still setting up! It turned out to be a really slow day as we'd had lots of rain the previous days and were forecast another storm later in the afternoon. Saturday was a little better. I had an order for a tent and sold enough to get my money back on the booth and then some. I don't think I'll do that show again and doubt I'll do anymore shows during the summer. I think people spend more nearer the holidays so I will probably stick to those kind of shows. But I will definitely organize myself the same way because that kept me on task and I was very productive.
They're not the best pictures but at least it gives you an idea of my side of the booth. I'll probably put some of the items in my shop over the next week or so, but for now it's off to finish another project ...
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Craft Fair Update
I really don't have much to show for the week! Between spending time with The Bean and Sissy and driving up to Penn State for M's graduation and work, I haven't really had much free time to just sew but I have enjoyed my time with the family. I've done lots of prep work - cutting out a baby quilt, 4 flat houses (1 is almost complete),some bunting and stuffing some small pillow stuffies, so hopefully by Friday I'll have some completed projects. I'm trying to get the more time consuming projects done first so that way I wont be stressing out closer to the craft fair!! Also on a positive note my good friend and fellow sewer/crafter will be sharing my booth with me. This will be the third time we've done something like this together so that definitely takes away some of the pressure of trying to make enough stuff for the two days. I look forward to my next update that should have lots of pix, so until then...
I really don't have much to show for the week! Between spending time with The Bean and Sissy and driving up to Penn State for M's graduation and work, I haven't really had much free time to just sew but I have enjoyed my time with the family. I've done lots of prep work - cutting out a baby quilt, 4 flat houses (1 is almost complete),some bunting and stuffing some small pillow stuffies, so hopefully by Friday I'll have some completed projects. I'm trying to get the more time consuming projects done first so that way I wont be stressing out closer to the craft fair!! Also on a positive note my good friend and fellow sewer/crafter will be sharing my booth with me. This will be the third time we've done something like this together so that definitely takes away some of the pressure of trying to make enough stuff for the two days. I look forward to my next update that should have lots of pix, so until then...
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Craft Fair Progress
As promised here is the progress over the past week. My goal is to make about 10 items each week and although I didn't quite reach that goal, I feel like I had a very productive week. I made a baby quilt (which I love!) and have 6 dolls in varying stages. I'm trying to do the machine sewing during the day so that in the evening I can stuff or hand sew whilst watching TV. I do have other things on my sewing table so hopefully they'll show up in the next photo shoot!!
Here's the quilt before and after
As promised here is the progress over the past week. My goal is to make about 10 items each week and although I didn't quite reach that goal, I feel like I had a very productive week. I made a baby quilt (which I love!) and have 6 dolls in varying stages. I'm trying to do the machine sewing during the day so that in the evening I can stuff or hand sew whilst watching TV. I do have other things on my sewing table so hopefully they'll show up in the next photo shoot!!
Here's the quilt before and after
And here are the dolls
Tomorrow I'm off from work so hope to do some work out in the garden - I need to get my veg garden planted and then spend time up in my sewing room. So until next time ...
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Craft Fair Prep
As I mentioned in my last post - I have decided to do a craft show in June. I've done them before over the years but this one is different as it's for two days. I really don't know what to expect as this is both new to me and at the location (they have been doing an antique show for years but this is the first time they'll be hosting a craft fair to go with it). They expect about 5000 people to pass through over the two days so that should be exciting. So with all that in mind I went to my all time favourite place - Pinterest - to look for both ideas of what to make and how to prepare for it. I came across a great blog from stitched in color. The post is The Craft Fair Series and you can find it under events or try this link (I'm still learning how to do this!) stitchedincolor.com/2012/09/the-craft-show-series.html
The show is June 13 and 14 (Friday and Saturday) which gives me a total of 7 weeks. I've broken down everything just as it is in stitched in color, so here goes.
Inventory Planning (what I already have)
3 baby blankets
1 baby quilt
1 twin size quilt
a few bibs, burp cloths, taggie blankets
2 utility aprons
2 covered journals
Categories (and how many I'd like to make)
10 covered journals
15 dolls
10 stuffies
5 flat houses with doll and clothes
5 tents
8 beach bag/tote
8 quilts/blankets
6 bunting
6 pillows
Schedule (how many items I need to make a week)
I've added up how many I'd like and kind of figured out that I need to make about 10 items each week. I will update this section weekly.
Pricing
I'll look at this a little later and come back to it.
Booth Design
My space is 20x20 so I want to buy a 10x10 white canopy. I've been looking and have seen one at Kmart but need to check out other stores to get the best deal.
Look at props I already own.
Look at my Pinterest board - Booth Design - for more ideas.
Make my Whimsies bunting for the front of the canopy.
Props
bag pole metal dress form
doll cradle tiered (fruit) baskets
small doll bench lazy Susan
wooden wagon small wooden stool
metal potato basket rug
ladder trunk
tiered plant stand table and table coverings
large baskets
wine crates
The Little Details (everything from business cards,Visa?, packaging etc)
business cards - will double as price tags
- how to attach them to the product
- put them out for people to take
check to make sure I have enough sew in labels
packaging - bags, tissue, stickers
small checkout station
payment methods - check out square.com
money tin and float
receipt book
any signs for group displays - use wooden picture frames
masking tape (for bunting)
Booth Mock-up
This I will do the week of the show.
So this is it! I think I've covered everything. I will update this each week with pictures and any other info that I think will be useful. Until then...
As I mentioned in my last post - I have decided to do a craft show in June. I've done them before over the years but this one is different as it's for two days. I really don't know what to expect as this is both new to me and at the location (they have been doing an antique show for years but this is the first time they'll be hosting a craft fair to go with it). They expect about 5000 people to pass through over the two days so that should be exciting. So with all that in mind I went to my all time favourite place - Pinterest - to look for both ideas of what to make and how to prepare for it. I came across a great blog from stitched in color. The post is The Craft Fair Series and you can find it under events or try this link (I'm still learning how to do this!) stitchedincolor.com/2012/09/the-craft-show-series.html
The show is June 13 and 14 (Friday and Saturday) which gives me a total of 7 weeks. I've broken down everything just as it is in stitched in color, so here goes.
Inventory Planning (what I already have)
3 baby blankets
1 baby quilt
1 twin size quilt
a few bibs, burp cloths, taggie blankets
2 utility aprons
2 covered journals
Categories (and how many I'd like to make)
10 covered journals
15 dolls
10 stuffies
5 flat houses with doll and clothes
5 tents
8 beach bag/tote
8 quilts/blankets
6 bunting
6 pillows
Schedule (how many items I need to make a week)
I've added up how many I'd like and kind of figured out that I need to make about 10 items each week. I will update this section weekly.
Pricing
I'll look at this a little later and come back to it.
Booth Design
My space is 20x20 so I want to buy a 10x10 white canopy. I've been looking and have seen one at Kmart but need to check out other stores to get the best deal.
Look at props I already own.
Look at my Pinterest board - Booth Design - for more ideas.
Make my Whimsies bunting for the front of the canopy.
Props
bag pole metal dress form
doll cradle tiered (fruit) baskets
small doll bench lazy Susan
wooden wagon small wooden stool
metal potato basket rug
ladder trunk
tiered plant stand table and table coverings
large baskets
wine crates
The Little Details (everything from business cards,Visa?, packaging etc)
business cards - will double as price tags
- how to attach them to the product
- put them out for people to take
check to make sure I have enough sew in labels
packaging - bags, tissue, stickers
small checkout station
payment methods - check out square.com
money tin and float
receipt book
any signs for group displays - use wooden picture frames
masking tape (for bunting)
Booth Mock-up
This I will do the week of the show.
So this is it! I think I've covered everything. I will update this each week with pictures and any other info that I think will be useful. Until then...
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Where have I been!!
Ok, so clearly I'm not very good about keeping up with a blog! I wish I could say I've been really really busy or that I've been travelling or something but I haven't. I've been working at my part time job, doing a little sewing and crafts and spending lots of time with The Bean. How can I not spend time with her? I wasn't lucky enough to have my mum or twin sister living close to me when I had my two kids as we were in the military, so I've decided that spending time with my grandchildren is top priority! Yes I said children. The Bean is now a big sister to Sissy who arrived in quite a hurry last Thursday night Friday morning. She was a few days early and entered the world in a short hour and a half of labor!! If only I'd been that lucky with my two....
Naturally I had to make a quilt for Sissy, so chose to do a really simple design. I went to Joann's and was surprised to find some really cute fabric. I came straight home and cut my strips and pieced it together in about an hour. I then went back to Joann's to buy backing and settled on a flannel. I decided to just quilt in horizontal lines about 2" apart. I love how it looks and have decided that this will be the baby quilt I make for my up coming craft show - more on that later. Then with my leftover fabrics I put together a banner to hang in her room.
I also made a quilt for The Bean. I don't have any pics yet as I sent it away to be quilted and I still have to make a matching pillowcase for it but I will post some as soon as I get it back.
So I've decided to do a Craft Show. It's in the middle of June giving me plenty of time to make some things for it. As I was looking through Pinterest the other day I came across a great blog about prepping for a show. stitchedincolor.com/2012/09/the-craft-show-series I'm definitely going to use her plan to get me organized. Over the next day or so I'll make my list/plan and keep you updated with my progress. Until then...
Naturally I had to make a quilt for Sissy, so chose to do a really simple design. I went to Joann's and was surprised to find some really cute fabric. I came straight home and cut my strips and pieced it together in about an hour. I then went back to Joann's to buy backing and settled on a flannel. I decided to just quilt in horizontal lines about 2" apart. I love how it looks and have decided that this will be the baby quilt I make for my up coming craft show - more on that later. Then with my leftover fabrics I put together a banner to hang in her room.
I also made a quilt for The Bean. I don't have any pics yet as I sent it away to be quilted and I still have to make a matching pillowcase for it but I will post some as soon as I get it back.
So I've decided to do a Craft Show. It's in the middle of June giving me plenty of time to make some things for it. As I was looking through Pinterest the other day I came across a great blog about prepping for a show. stitchedincolor.com/2012/09/the-craft-show-series I'm definitely going to use her plan to get me organized. Over the next day or so I'll make my list/plan and keep you updated with my progress. Until then...
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
My gifts are done!
So a little bit later than planned but here are the gifts I made for my friend. The first is an infinity scarf that I'd pinned a long time ago from http://fiberflux.blogspot.com/2012/09/free-crochet-patternpavement-infinity.html and the second are a pair of felted mittens.
I taught myself to crochet years ago but was never really inspired by the patterns that were available. I always thought they were old fashioned, boring and dare I say quite ugly! Now fast forward to Pinterest and let's just say my opinion has changed!! All I now needed was to pick a pattern and start. My daughter had just completed an infinity scarf in one evening the night before and after seeing it I realized that it was the same pattern I had pinned. So off I went to Michaels and bought some yarn. I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in the mushroom colour on a size M crochet hook. I used 2 1/2 balls and it measured about 64".
So here it is - I love it and am now making a few more for gifts and hopefully one for me!
As I said the second gift is a pair of felted mittens. A few years ago when I left my full time job, I started sewing just the outside part of the mittens for someone who had posted a "seamstress wanted" ad. I sewed for her for about 10 months up until The Bean (my granddaughter) was born. And now nearly two years later I decided to have a go and make my own. The hardest part for me was finding feltable sweaters that I could cut up, so I decided to knit and felt my own. But luckily for me on a trip to Plato's Closet with my daughter, I found a cute pink/purple striped cardigan. It would go well with my purple cashmere sweater and the Patons Classic Wool that I'd bought from Joann.com when it was on sale and there was free shipping! After drawing out a pattern, I cut out the wool pieces, ran down to Joann's for some fleece and then sewed it all together.
They're so toasty warm and perfect for the cold weather we are currently enjoying.
I hope you like them! Until next time ...
I taught myself to crochet years ago but was never really inspired by the patterns that were available. I always thought they were old fashioned, boring and dare I say quite ugly! Now fast forward to Pinterest and let's just say my opinion has changed!! All I now needed was to pick a pattern and start. My daughter had just completed an infinity scarf in one evening the night before and after seeing it I realized that it was the same pattern I had pinned. So off I went to Michaels and bought some yarn. I used Loops & Threads Cozy Wool in the mushroom colour on a size M crochet hook. I used 2 1/2 balls and it measured about 64".
So here it is - I love it and am now making a few more for gifts and hopefully one for me!
As I said the second gift is a pair of felted mittens. A few years ago when I left my full time job, I started sewing just the outside part of the mittens for someone who had posted a "seamstress wanted" ad. I sewed for her for about 10 months up until The Bean (my granddaughter) was born. And now nearly two years later I decided to have a go and make my own. The hardest part for me was finding feltable sweaters that I could cut up, so I decided to knit and felt my own. But luckily for me on a trip to Plato's Closet with my daughter, I found a cute pink/purple striped cardigan. It would go well with my purple cashmere sweater and the Patons Classic Wool that I'd bought from Joann.com when it was on sale and there was free shipping! After drawing out a pattern, I cut out the wool pieces, ran down to Joann's for some fleece and then sewed it all together.
They're so toasty warm and perfect for the cold weather we are currently enjoying.
I hope you like them! Until next time ...
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Preparing for the cold!
Whoever invented the cowl is a genius!! I love them and can't have enough of them! I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and fun, soft yarns. I just finished three of them - one crocheted and two knitted. They're relatively quick to make and they're great if you're watching something on TV but need a project to do to. And they're definitely a great addition to your wardrobe!! I just listed these in my Etsy shop and I'm working on a few more that I hope to have there soon.
Now I'm off to finish up a christmas gift for friend! I'll share that in the next day or so. Until then...
Whoever invented the cowl is a genius!! I love them and can't have enough of them! I'm always on the lookout for new ideas and fun, soft yarns. I just finished three of them - one crocheted and two knitted. They're relatively quick to make and they're great if you're watching something on TV but need a project to do to. And they're definitely a great addition to your wardrobe!! I just listed these in my Etsy shop and I'm working on a few more that I hope to have there soon.
Now I'm off to finish up a christmas gift for friend! I'll share that in the next day or so. Until then...
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Here we go...
Today is the start of my blog - Thank you M!
My love for making things goes way back to when I was a child. My twin sister and I would fashion clothes out of fabric scraps for our dolls or knit scarves or blankets with the help from our mum! And over the years I've dabbled in a knitting business - designing and knitting for a magazine, taking part in many craft shows, sewing totes and bags for local stores, teaching at a quilt shop and quilt guild, to eventually opening an Etsy shop. I have lots of ideas of things I'd like to make (thank you Pinterest!), and so I thought by having a blog it would motivate me to do a little more creating and a little less thinking! So please follow me whilst I share my creative journey with you.
Today is the start of my blog - Thank you M!
My love for making things goes way back to when I was a child. My twin sister and I would fashion clothes out of fabric scraps for our dolls or knit scarves or blankets with the help from our mum! And over the years I've dabbled in a knitting business - designing and knitting for a magazine, taking part in many craft shows, sewing totes and bags for local stores, teaching at a quilt shop and quilt guild, to eventually opening an Etsy shop. I have lots of ideas of things I'd like to make (thank you Pinterest!), and so I thought by having a blog it would motivate me to do a little more creating and a little less thinking! So please follow me whilst I share my creative journey with you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)