Christmas List

Since Halloween I've become very unorganized with my sewing to do list. I figure I'll put my list here, and hopefully since it's here I'll be able to keep track of it better, and be able to scratch things off of it faster.

3 framed stitchery patterns
some sort of wooden anything painted with Bears
a custom tie
something his and hers, maybe a tree skirt with a last name on it
another tree skirt
dolls and nightgowns

And of course I'm way behind on this list! And I think I might have left someone out, time to rack my brain!

Professing my love for Big K

Being a busy mom of 3, sometimes I get well..... BUSY! Last friday I picked up 2 layaways I had at my local Kmart. I didn't bother looking in the bags to make sure everything was there, just sort of assumed since I saw it all go in the box together when I put the layaway on. So yesterday morning, after I take my boys to school, I went to take inventory on what else we needed to get from our lists. Just my luck, a $40 toy was missing! I panicked, and my husband and I ransacked our garage and car looking for it. It then hit me that I didn't see the girl take it out of the box and put it in my bag since it was so large. Were not in any position (as I'm sure no one is), to be losing $40, and my husband said we were just out of luck. Being the optimist I am, I called Kmart to see if it might still be in layaway somewhere. Sadly it wasn't, but the girl I talked to on the phone talked to her manager for me. They grabbed the last toy off the shelf, and held it at the front for me!!

Now that's customer service! I'm so pleased lately with my shopping experiences with Kmart, from double coupons to this..... I'm rethinking where I do a majority of my shopping. Walmart is usually where I go for their low prices, but the employees are rude and never helpful. Kmart, you've earned my praise. I wrote a letter last night to corporate letting them know of my positive experience, and got a response this morning. I'm just happy!

Awesome Giveaway!

OMG, over at grossgrain there's an amazing dress giveaway! I'm so in love with this dress it isn't funny. Go check it out, and enter! It's truly awesome. Social frock giveaway

Brrr!!!!

It's getting cold here in California!! And I picked up some sherpa lined suede a while back just for coats. So what better day to start making coats? I'm making 2 of these coats, 1 for my daughter, and 1 for my best friends daughter. Olivia's coat is in pink, and Ailsa's coat is in camel. I'm using simplicity 2778I'm making the coat version, not the vest. Olivia had one just like it last winter, only it was bought for over $30 at Old Navy. This coat cost me $11.97 for a yard of the sherpa lined suede. How great of a deal is that? And I bought the pattern at Joanns for $.99!! Boy do I feel like I got a great bargain. The sizing on the pattern goes from 3-8, so I traced the pieces I needed with tissue paper. Now I'll get to use the pattern again for a few more years!! I have to admit, that tracing the pieces is a bit tedious, but well worth it in the end when I only paid $.99 for the pattern and it has so many sizes.

Can't wait to start! I just finished tracing the pattern out, while the fabric is getting pre-shrunk in the washer and dryer. Now to change the needles and thread out on my sewing machine and get started! Hopefully I make some progress tonight.

Little by Little

Today I got a lot done as far as my shop is concerned. I've mapped out my business plan, did my banner and avatar, but most importantly....... I approved the sample for my hang tags!!! I'm super excited about how they came out and can't wait to get them in the mail. Next up is my business cards and clothing labels!

setting up shop

It's been a while since my last experience selling my creations, and I feel it's time to bring it back. I've learned a lot since then, not just about sewing but about running my business too. So I've been lost lately in licensing terms and agreements, copyrighting laws, messaging with people to get my tags/labels/cards printed up, and my logo created.

At the moment I've only shared the name with my best friend, but hopefully I'll be able to share it soon. I'm just waiting on dates that I'll have my labels, tags, and cards that way I can give a tentative opening date for my new shop. And rest assured, I'm thinking BIG this time! With samples and cards in hand I will be doing some traveling and trying to peddle my wares to different boutique store fronts, and already planning a few craft/boutique fairs for the coming year. I hope to be open by christmas, but we'll see. I'm slowly building up stock, and have been gathering my materials little by little. Hopefully my vision comes to fruition this time, and I'll be able to generate a decent income from the hobby I love so much.

So that's my busy life lately in a nutshell. I hope to be back to the blogging world like my regular self soon!

Sweater progress

I've been making great progress on Orion's Link sweater. I'd probably be done already, if each section didn't need so many coats of paint. I have to lay it on pretty thick, and paint about 3-4 times, and give it drying time between coats. Orion loves waking up every morning, and coming home from school and seeing how far I've gotten. I love seeing the look on his face!


Here's Link with his tunic in progress.



And here's Link holding half a shield, his sword handle, and the missing part of his hat filled in. The other half of his shield is grey, but I'm not adding that until I'm ready to put in the grey details on the sword. That way, my grey tones are the same shade.


Link's getting some skin here. After his skin is all done, I just have to add the details of his shield, then I'll be ready to fill in all the details. The details are his eyes, the shading, and lines that define his face, legs, and all that jazz.

A few more sections, a few more layers, and I'll be ready for the front!!!