Happy New Year's Eve!

Wishing my blogging friends, visitors, friends and family near and far a Happy New Year.
Thank you for stopping by throughout the year. I really appreciate every comment and all of your kind , supportive words : )

I decided to write a longer post~some of the technicalities-scanning photos etc...didn't work out. So I will put half of the post today and hopefully the other half tomorrow...

1st 1/2:
Do you make new year's resolutions?
In my previous post, I mentioned one of my creative resolutions...I don't really make 'official' resolutions. I try and contemplate things I'd like to do, more, better, quit. Perhaps call it a 'goals' list.
I find I feel more motivated, get more accomplished and am less stressed, if I have specific goals written down on a list I can scratch off as I go. A visual. A sense of getting something accomplished-finished. When, if you're a (work at home) mom~ the never ending piles of laundry and stacks of dishes, meal cooking, fill in the blanks_______, ________make me, at least, feel that I'm just spinning my wheels in never ending, never finished chores.

So...in no particular order...here are some of my, mostly creative related goals for 2010:

Goal #1 is to improve my blog/shop/business. More specifically marketing, taking better photos, adding more things, more often to my shop. Doing some shows-I really miss those. I haven't done one in 2 years :(
I also want to write tutorials, submit things for publication and more.

Goal #2 is to finish my workspace-we have a guy coming Sunday to give us an estimate (!) yippee!!

Goal #3 ~Improve/advance my sewing skills- try out more complicated things. I am mostly self taught -and have never really been that great at making clothes, unless it was something really simple. For Christmas I received this book and this book-I know they're kind of advanced, but I am determined... I can't wait to make my own things....

Goal #4~ Improve/advance my knitting skills...I have never made a sweater(!) I bought needles and yarn yesterday to start this project. O.k, it's not really a sweater..but I think I should start with a project that has no sleeves. And I think it's cute.
I did make this, this month. From this book:

It turned out smaller than I had hoped because I used smaller needles.Thankfully I know someone who can wear it ; )

I'm pretty impressed with myself. I even noticed a mistake(??) in the book, that I tried over and over to get right. I didn't give up. I emailed the author and she kindly gave me the correction/explained what I was doing wrong.
I also want to start adding my projects to to my ravelry page~photos of things I'm making. I have ideas for patterns I'd like to try and write out ~stay tuned for that : )

Hopefully I can iron out the technical difficulties and post the rest tomorrow. Meanwhile have a Happy, healthy , safe New Year's Eve :)

December in review

I hope everyone had a great Christmas. Ours was spent pretty quietly with family and friends~my favorite way. We finally hosted Christmas in our very own home for the first time so that was neat...

This month has gone by so fast~I seem to say that a lot. It's true, time flies.

I had good intentions to write frequently and post projects and tutorials but alas it wasn't meant to be.
I try to make this blog a happy place for guests and myself, so I tend to write about positive happy things, but , I've been pretty blue since we've moved and it's hard for me to get up any motivation or creative inspiration when I feel that way.This just doesn't really(yet?) feel like home to me and there have been some unexpected issues to make me a little stressed so, I haven't been as crafty as I would've hoped and wished.

moving on.... happy thoughts....

To keep me motivated, I have jotted down a few resolutions for the new year.
#1 in the crafty field is... improving my whole shop/blog/ business.
One of our reasons for moving was so I could have room to work and really get these creative projects going.
My plan this week is to get started working on the space that is to be my studio so I can really get to work with my resolution. Husband is at Home Depot now buying primer as I write, so we're off to a start......and I'll hopefully get to Ikea for some shelving units today or this week. Just need drywall and flooring and...where's that list?

Anyway, please enjoy December in photos....


Snowball fights were had...

I told M not to get wet (yeah, right Mom)before we went out so she made snow angels~note soaked coat

Cookies were made...

pinwheel cookies ..and many more

mint flavored candy cane cookies

Coco read a 'good' book...

Coco enjoys "bad cat"

Cards were made...

Projects were left unfinished... :(

maybe I should continue working on them so they'll be ready for next year!?

Photos were taken...

And new projects got underway... : )

remaking an old project new again

This is a project I actually finished a few Valentine's Day's back prior to having an etsy shop or a blog. I love how it turned out and never got around to making more and thought they'd be great to add to the shop this coming year...I'm starting now so they might get finished in time~lol... here is a sneak preview...

just need to get a few more zippers...

Have a Happy New Year!~ Do you have any 'creative' resolutions?

A week has gone by,

and I feel like I haven't gotten much accomplished. I can't believe it's been over a week since I last posted. I have been working on a few projects tho'...
Finally got a new Winter banner up (!) Do you like it? It's a present my daughter is working on. A snowman Nutcracker.
We started painting some doll heads for a project too, that we'll (hopefully) get done Friday night or Saturday. I have a few packages I need to send off this weekend. I just don't seem to have any energy lately.I keep falling asleep at 4 a.m and getting up at 6 a.m.That my have something to do with it (?!)...


Once started, I wasn't really sure how I wanted to paint their faces...they aren't exactly how I had envisioned but the girls had fun painting theirs. The brushes weren't the best either (kiddie multi econo pack) but I was surprised how shiny the (real) acrylic paints turned out. I'm used to working with oils and craft paints...

Putting the heads on paint brushes made keeping fingers out of wet paint easier :)

I made up these apples following this Heather Bailey pattern.


Sorry for the not so hot pics. My youngest insisted on wrapping them between breakfast, getting ready for school and ten other things. She held up 'the backdrop'~and they came out somewhat blurry in the dark.
Oh well-the pattern was really easy to follow and I think they turned out pretty nice considering most of the things I have been working on lately have been shelved. I even used up some felt scraps and some fabrics I don't have other plans for. I did use polyfil (trying to use up what I have) on one, and it seemed to fill out better than the one I used my bamboo filling on. It was also lighter -so it just depends on the look/purpose you're going for. I had intended to make them into ornaments but decided on just a decoration instead.

these will be teacher's gifts, because teachers can never have enough apples, right?

Off to go get some more things accomplished :)

More headbands-and a 'sort of" tutorial

This one is a gift but I think it turned out pretty nice, so I might make some more and put them in the shop.

Here's a little "Sort of Tutorial"- you may or may not remember the first one here. (If there's an interest I can make a more detailed instruction soon)

1. First, look through your box of fabric scraps:

If you don't have a ginormous amount of scraps like me, you can choose one or several cotton prints depending on the look you're going for.

2. Next, cut your pieces.

- Using my rotary cutter I trimmed the pieces approx. 1 1/2 inches wide x, as long as the scraps were, long. Most of my scraps are no more than 2~3 inches inches.....This is a great way to use them up :D

3. Sew them together by the short ends.

- I made a strip about 15 inches long. I don't remember the exact measurements, I'm just sort of eyeballing it right now-note to self: I can edit that later when I make another one ; ). It also depends on how big you'd like your ruffle flower to be. This part is somewhat like making bias strips....

4. Press all of the little seams to one side.

5. Sew with a basting stitch.

-I placed wrong sides together matching the long raw edges.Then basted from one end to the other- (I back stitch at the beginning)

6. Gently pull the threads to gather the strip.

7. Turn the ruffle 'round and 'round on itself into a circle shape.

8. Hand stitch from the bottom to the top through the center to tack it in place.

-I also stitched a few of the layers together so the raw edges in between don't show.

9.Look through your box of felt scraps:

Choose a coordinating color of felt from your felt scrap box. Or just cut a piece from a larger piece if you don't have a ginormous box of felt scraps ;)

-I cut a circle with my scallop edged scissors just a little smaller than the back of the flower ruffle, and glued it on with "gem~tac". I usually use gem~tac to glue fabric to metal pin backs.

10. Glue ruffle to headband using another small rectangle of felt and more gem~tac.

-I stuck the point of the headband into a basket to hold it up straight while the glue was drying.

I found these headbands at ULTA-they're super skinny, but stay on well. You could use any headband you like of course.

I might add buttons or some other type of embellishment to the center of the flower next time.

Voila ~ you're done. Enjoy :D

And the winner is...

So here's how the winners are chosen for our giveaways:

1.Coco digs around the hat and mixes up the names real well...



2.Coco chooses names by having the paper cling to her ears...darn that camera missed the best part , it was so cute too ;(
she even has a runner up name chosen!


This is why she goes looking in the hat in the first place----treats!

And the winner:

Sweet limes ~congratulations!!
You are the lucky winner chosen by our studio mascot, Coco!
Please reply to my comment on your blog & or email or even here, within 48 hours or we'll have to go with winner #2 :)

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So today is the first snow of the season. I remember growing up in France-the last place I lived where it snowed in the Winter~that my feet would freeze so bad I'd just stick them under the radiators and writhe in pain. So I'm a little worried about how I'll be now-hopefully my boots are better insulated, but I'm not so sure.

I have a lot of Christmas gift knitting to catch up on. I have finished a few things-like these fingerless gloves. They are very simple to make~ I sort of make up the pattern as I go depending on what amounts of yarn I have. I'm using all of those smaller balls that don't quite have enough yardage to make anything else with.The stripes are purposely mismatched. Just for fun :) and because like socks, it's hard to make 2 .



I'll show you the headbands tomorrow....Using some of those scraps I always keep!

Treasury again :) & Last day for giveaway

I'm in another treasury !
Wow ! I've been on Etsy for over a year and have only been in enough to count on one hand (or less) but this week has been my lucky week~I've been in 2! Put together by:twazzy...a nice collection of Christmas goodies...and my Christmas Kitty Brooch- gotta sell these this week ; )
I wore one of mine to a horse parade yesterday...

don't worry the bottom right kitty isn't dented like that-it just got folded under before I noticed of course :0

Tonight is the the last chance to enter the giveaway -please click on that link to enter the contest.
Tomorrow I will have some new goodies to show you :)
-along with the winner's name.

Giveaway update

I just wanted to drop in and let you all know that I am reading every one of your comments-and appreciate the feedback :)
One visitor mentioned having trouble adding herself as a follower.I am not at all tech savvy- but I think it's working now as I've noticed others have successfully added themselves later on. Just let me know if you're having trouble-and I'll add your name twice to the hat :)

For the giveaway post please comment here-( the post just below)...
Have a Happy Creative Day.

Giveaway Day!! : )

Today is Giveaway Day sponsored by Sew Mama Sew !!

1)Please leave me a comment at the bottom of this post, telling me which item in my shop you like best, or what you think I should make more of ....

2)Follow my blog for an extra entry---please let me know in your comments so I can make sure to add your name twice :)

The winner will receive this: bird appliqued felted wool pouch. Perfect to carry a larger phone, or to use as a little camera case.

closeup detail of stitching and applique

You have until December 6th.The prize will be shipped by December 12th. International applicants welcome!

pouch large enough to fit a smaller camera

Winner will be chosen at random by Coco, the official studio mascot:

Once I wake her up from her nap that is ; )

Please make sure to leave your etsy shop link, an email or a blog address where I can contact you if you should win. Comments without contact info will be ignored by Coco ; )

I will also need to hear back from the winner within 2 days from my contacting them, or she will choose the lucky runner up.