Stop staring and start sewing!

Bag Ladies unite!

When I started selling hand crafted things on ebay I only did purses and diaper bags because they were fast, fun and don't require much fabric (I'm totally tired of them now).  I was invited to join a group of other gals who made bags and it turned out to be the nicest group.  Everybody was easy going and generous in sharing advice.  Well, the place is a flippin' ghost town now since everybody found etsy and while I miss our little chats, I'm happy to see my friends (or "virtual friends" as Joey refers to them.  Whatever.) finding fame and fortune in what they do.

This month two of my bag lady friends are in Romantic Homes magazine!  I think this is one of the prettiest magazines out there and their creations fit in just perfectly.  Beth makes such beautiful bags but I think her pincushions are even more impressive and unique.  And Beth has a little not-so-little secret.  She's a published author.  Of bodice rippers.  Really (I know, scandalous).

Here's her darling little pincushion in the magazine.  See it sitting there on that pretty stack of fabric?

They even put a bigger picture in the back.  Isn't it cute?  And to be honest, this one isn't even the cutest of her pincushions.  One time another person on ebay started copying her pincushions (it was so blatant it didn't even fit into the "inspired by" category) and we all said "don't worry Beth.  Her stuff is crap and she'll be gone soon" (I think the copycat may have been the recipient of a few pointed emails too.  Just maybe.).  I have no idea where that copycat is today (probably in therapy over those scathing emails) but Beth is published in Romantic Homes, so there's a lesson to be learned.

And my friends Kelci sells zillions of bags on etsy (I think I've sold an incredible 2) and in local boutiques.  She's a hot item I tell ya!  One of the boutiques is featured in the magazine and includes some beautiful bags Kelci made.  She is also published in a local magazine (she lives on the Coast in central California but don't hate her for it) too!  Dang girl!

Aren't these gorgeous (I hope they're selling for a fortune!)? 

Way to represent gals!

The greenbird of happiness

I had intended to make a wreath to decorate my front door in time for Easter.  I finally got it done today and I'm so glad because my autumn wreath was starting to depress me and it gave me an excuse to scrub the dust off the door.  I'm not much of a flower arranging type and I'm terrible with a glue gun (got the blisters to prove it).  But it's done and it looks springy so there you go.

Here's the door before.

Here's after.  Fresh!  Although now I see my need for a new doormat.

Here's what I used.  I think I spent a total of 16.00 because I didn't have any Michael's coupons and I didn't have time to run to the Dollar Tree (love their crafty stuff), because remember,  I was going to finish it for Easter.  I had to dust off my green basket of flowers outside because it was just coated with dust but I was glad to recycle my faux hydrangeas (and whatever those purple things are supposed to be, lilacs maybe?). 

The cat kept sneaking up on the little bird and smacking it with her paw but I managed to save him and isn't he cute?  I think he'll be safe here.

That's enough crafting for now.  I'm going back to the sewing room where I don't need glue guns.  I feel much safer around scissors, needles, and steam irons sitting on wobbly ironing boards.  Whew.

Waiting for Mary, day 2

Well no magazine today, sigh.  But I did keep busy nonetheless.  I got a couple cuties shipped out that I want to share.

I made this cute little bloomer/skirt combo for a very nice customer who bought a dress made from this fabric for her oldest daughter last year and has since had another little girl.  She wanted some matching bloomers and I was tickled to oblige.  I took a simple little bloomer pattern and added a skirt.  I only had a tiny amount of the pink fabric left so I made these little birdies across the rump and aren't they cute?  The fabric is kind of crinkly (or "shabby", ahem) because it's from Rachel Ashwell's sheets.  I love the little stick legs, I hope she does too.

I also shipped these beauties to the winner of my drawing.  This was really fun to make and I'm happy with the way it turned out.  Fresh fresh baby!

In the spirit of Mary-ness I want to share something fun I used to do with my girls.  10 years ago they were all little and they were so excited to discover that each MEHC magazine comes with a beautiful paper doll and it didn't take them long to help themselves to the first one.  I was so mortified that they had taken it (I mean what would little girls want with a cute little paper doll anyway??) and realized I had to come up with a solution if I was going to keep my collection intact. Here's Ann Estelle from the April/May 1997 issue.  Isn't she cute?  And those clothes!

I started tracing the dolls and clothes onto vellum and then I would copy the dolls onto paper stock.  I colored them in so they looked almost as good as the originals (using Mary's pen and colored pencil method that I read about in one of her books).  Then I let the girls copy the dresses, pets, and accessories using whatever colors and designs they wanted.  I don't have the paper dolls I made anymore but I managed to hold onto the pictures I traced. 

Here are a couple that the girls colored.

Oh the possibilities!

We shared hours of fun with these and I got to keep my collection.  Maybe when I have grandchildren I'll be a little more willing to part with them.  But I doubt it.

Ding-dong!

Wow.  The doorbell seemed to ring all day Friday.  And not once did I open the door to find a magazine salesman or somebody wanting to squirt my porch with some amazing all natural rust, chewing gum and crayon (and everything else) remover.

First was FedEx with some books for Joey's computer networking class (Zzzzzzz....sorry, it's just not my thing).  But things really got exciting when the UPS guy buzzed by with not 1, not 2, but 3!! boxes of fabric from Free Spirit!!  My first batch of goods for my almost-here fabric store!!!  I wiped back tears and lovingly pulled out each gorgeous bolt of Jennifer Paganelli's basics line and Tina Givens' Zazu line.  Oh my precioussssss...... 

......But it wasn't over!  The doorbell rang again and I looked through the peephole and saw the yellow DHL van bringing my new shoes!  I fell in love with them at the local Nordstom (a big thank you to my mom and mother-in-law for having a vulcan mind-meld and each giving me a Nordstrom gift card for Christmas!) but had to have them sent from a California store because apparently there are few gals in Arizona with big feet like mine (humph).  So comfortable and darn cute!

All in all, a good day!

Christmas past

Aahhhh....The joyful memories of childhood Christmases.  I don't remember exactly but I'm sure that right after this picture was snapped Jill slugged me in the arm and Jennie ran off to tape pointy little curls to her cheeks with white tape (I'm the angelic one on the left).

And I've always wanted to ask my mom "What's with the dried white stick ornament hangy thingy on the TV?" (widescreen circa 1968).  Groovy.

Here we are this year with Daddy.  Notice how I'm staying away from Jill?  Right after my mom snapped this picture.......well you know.

Fun with Trash Ties

Here's something snazzy.

I did some fun twisty things with Peety's hair and some Trash Ties. It turned out pretty cute don't you think? She has long hair so I just kept twisting and tying and twisting and tying.

We went to a pretty raucous party (well the kids were raucous, the adults pretty much behaved themselves) and her hair was just as cute when we arrived back at the house.  Fun!

Pardon me ma'am, you seem to have dropped a name...

My sweet (and utterly fabulous!) friend Heather Bailey has finally got her Trash Ties up and available and I'm so excited for her and Isaac!  It's been a long road for them and we have had the privilege of sharing in a small part of their journey (did I mention she lives a mile from my house?).  So run over there (to the website, not her house) and do some Christmas shopping because, I'm telling you, these things are incredible!

Heather has also graciously offered to give FREE Trash Ties to each of the winners of all my ebay auctions listed in the month of December because she has seen my ancient sewing machine and taken great pity on me and my desperate quest to get a new one.  I'm thrilled to have the help and to have an opportunity to publicly sing the praises of these amazing hair accessories!  Oh, and EVERY bid my auctions receive in December will get entered into a drawing (on Jan 4th) for a free (yes!) outfit made from Heather's Freshcut fabric (I got it straight from her hands!).  Look at it (no drooling please):

But about those Trash Ties.....

My daughter received a bunch of Trash Ties in the spring and being the mean mom that I am, I quickly stole them.  Yes, it's true.  I do not have great hair and I couldn't believe how cute these things made my hair look!  Check out this picture of my fuzzy, unwashed, DIY dye-job hair done up in Trash Ties (sorry Heather.  I hope I don't make your company tank because of this picture):

I feel pretty, oh so pretty!!!  This took me about a minute and I was out the door on my way to the mall!  I may have to take some better pictures (like when I've actually taken a shower and put a little effort into it!)  but I'm telling you, I have 3 daughters with long thick hair (didn't get it from me obviously!) and these make it so easy and fun to do those Princess Leia cinnamon buns.  Crazy fun!

Oh, and here are some great pictures of my listed outfits taken by my friend Chanelle and her (Oh my gosh!  Isn't she cute?!) daughter Arie:

Fun!! 

Hey!  Did I mention that the winners of these auctions get FREE TRASH TIES??!!  AND did I mention that EVERY bid gets entered into a drawing for an outfit made from Freshcut fabric INCLUDING a set of Trash Ties??!!  Run, don't walk!

The day after

Apparently those turkey-tryptophan induced comas don't affect humans only.  Schnelly better rest up because the decorations are coming out and it's about to get real crazy around here.

This is my favorite cat picture though.  I love the scruffy looking cat and the confident mouse (he looks like he's the real boss here).

I mean it.

Really.

Zoo monkeys and their mommys

We decided to get some fresh air after a week of the flu so we left our little sanitarium and headed out for the zoo.  We got there at 3:30 only to find out they close at 4:00 now because they are preparing for Zoolights.  Well we ended up staying until 5:00 anyway and we were almost the last to leave.  It was beautiful, quiet and most of all... cool.  Nice.

Here is a darling picture I took of a mommy and baby inside the monkey forest.  Is that the sweetest little face or what?

Here's another cute little monkey baby and his mommy.  He has a cute face too (even with pretzel goo on his chin).

It was nice to leave the dishes, laundry, and sewing behind and get a change of scenery.

One thing I've been wondering is why do they call it a "sanitarium" when you know it's teeming with germs??   Hmmm....