Giveaway time !

If you've seen Sew Mama Sew's blog...you'll know May 27th is giveaway time !

Friday update: I am having lots of fun reading through the ideas of things you think I should make more of-and finding out about your blogs! Keep the entries coming! Coco would like lots of names in the hat ;)
I made this especially for the occasion: an "Afternoon Tea'' hot beverage sleeve....You know, instead of using those paper throw away sleeves? This is reusable. And much cuter.

I used one of my favorite fabrics, designed by Susan Branch. She has a really sweet website you can visit by clicking on her name highlighted there .
It has a sunny yellow floral for the inside lining to remind you of the summer. And I even added a few buttons.What more could you ask for?

~All you have to do is leave me a comment here for this post by May 31st telling me what you think I should make more of in my shop :)

~Once again , Coco my official studio mascot will randomly choose a number out of the hat . ( If I toss a treat into the hat that is ).


~We will contact the winner June 1st at which point we'll ask you for your mailing address. We will ship internationally:)

~Good luck!

Update:Please make sure to leave me a link to either your blog/email address/or etsy shop so I can contact you. I have noticed a few that have forgotten-and I wanna make sure we get the tea sleeve off to the winner : )

Please note:very important, when leaving your comment make sure your link has a 'contact' email or leave me an email address within your comment, or even an etsy shop name I can convo you there. Otherwise we'll have to go with the second runner up.

Cozy!

Cherry Pie Coffee/Tea Sleeve

~I just listed a coffee sleeve in my shop. I'm trying to think of a new name for these as obviously you could use them for tea or hot chocolate as well.
For this one I used the same fabric as the Cherry Pie pouch I had in my giveaway. It fits most 'small' or 'tall' cups. I haven't yet tried it on a larger size but I think it would work on the 'medium'-I should get all the technicalities and ounce sizes down. Any excuse for a run to the coffee shop right? There's also a little red vintage button.

~I will also soon be listing another Little Red Riding Hood pouch I just made...not too fond of the pics yet. Gotta redo those first. The buttons are different and the decorative stitching-and the interior fabric.I try and make a point of never doing the same thing twice. I'll show you as soon as it's listed.

~The surprise giveaway item is all ready to go too for the 27 th :) . Can't wait to show you.

~Lots of packing has been done. I asked Mr. andrea creates, if he could tell I had spent the whole day packing up boxes my 'studio' Saturday. He said : No.
Gee, do I feel deflated. I thought I had made obvious progress. I could see the empty shelves and lack of clutter on the floor. Couldn't he? I just tell myself : ' he isn't very observant' (lol-?)

The space I work in is probably 5x5 ft. even though lots of stuff is also all around the room/house. I should get right back up there now and get to work.
It's getting crazy around here. For some reason I thought it would look less cluttered with things packed up. I didn't take into consideration that now the shelves are empty -it's all in boxes in the middle of the room. Add to that some renovations and everything shoved here and there to accomodate that and I'm getting a little claustrophobic....The bathroom floors look really nice now tho'.


What are you doing this Memorial Day weekend?

Giveaway Day-May 27th

Well, I guess it's almost time for another giveaway!!
Sew Mama Sew is hosting a giveaway on May 27 th. Bloggers are invited to participate so if you're interested make sure to check the link~ I saw they had one in December too-where was I?
I 'm not sure what to include yet-I have a few possibilities available that I'm thinking of. Maybe something new made today??
I should give away everything in my 'studio' . Lol. I have already run out of boxes to pack on this 3 day weekend, have worked all morning and it barely looks as though I've made a dent in the stash. I think I will go take a break and sew. Oh and eat some of the brownies I just baked:)

Have a great weekend
~andrea

Treasury

The little fox has put my Little Red Riding Hood pouch on her blog, and in a treasury! How neat is that?!...The treasury is all about 'Little Red Riding Hood'... I also sold said pouch last night! Wow, it was quite the popular item yesterday : )

I didn't mean to cut off the other nice shops in the screenshot but I'm on someone else's laptop and can't quite get the picture done...Maybe next time,when I'm back on mine...

Multitasking with multi grain

I feel so guilty for not packing right now. So much still to do. I'm doing all of the packing myself so far. I am used to it because we moved a lot when I was little. I should be a pro packer by now. I did make a major dent in the mess here yesterday with 4 boxes actually sealed. I stared at my supplies for the longest time and sadly put them into a box. Not all.Why, if you looked at my room/studio, you wouldn't even know anything was 'put away'. No, I won't show you. I secretly dream of being in one of those "Where women create" or 'artist's studio' articles in a magazine someday. Perhaps in my new home ?
I will have 1/2 of the 1/2 finished part of 1/2 of the basement-is that confusing?-1/2 of the basement is 1/2 finished-it needs flooring. That half is 'split' in 2 by stairs. That description makes it sound really small but I believe the basement itself is the size of our condo right now. Entire condo. One main reason we're moving. I am working out of a corner of my bedroom. So you can imagine how big it will feel. I plan on making it my 'dream studio' so hopefully it will be picture perfect. Then I can show you.

O.k, so to feel less guilty for 'just' eating, I'm also blogging. Aboring lunch, it's multi grain bread, turkey and a slice of provolone with mayo and hot french mustard from Trader Joe's.

a boring lunch

Gotta have Dijon mustard on a sandwich. A little Orangina on the side. Perfect. Should keep me full for -oh, an hour?Then I'll have a leftover cupcake. Who said diet?

I had an 'insider' email tell me that Anthropologie is having their 'biggest sale of the year' starting today -so of course I had to go. I got the gift card I didn't use on Mother's Day when I was busy shopping 'with' the stars, remember?
I got this:andI can't seem to pass up acid green. I don't think I will wear them together.

My husband will call them 'sac a patates' when he gets home-which roughly means potato sack in French, and he might be right but that just makes me want to wear them even more.

I also got some of these....In Europe these bowls would most likely be used for hot chocolate, I use them for cereal-and ice cream.

Maybe another trip to Disneyland in the afternoon...I just looked at my blockout date calendar and can count on one hand the amount of times we can still go :(

Have a crafty happy day :)

What I've been doing lately

I have been advised that I should start packing up my 'studio'.This is something I've been postponing as long as I can. I am trying to figure out what I can put away and not need for my shop and any sewing I plan to do from now until ??? We're not even sure of our move date, but sometime in early July. (Too) fast approaching.

While digging through the mess of supplies, I came across some mushrooms I made last year or the year before, I mentioned them in one of my Easter posts. I feel like I'm always mentioning things and have no pictures, so here they are, better late than never, right?...
These are made from paper clay, which I painted and put an antiquing gel on. Some of them have little wired stems inserted to twist them onto the mini Easter basket handles I also painted and antiqued. I think I have a picture of them somewhere around here too. (On another computer, maybe I can get around to adding that here someday).
I'm not sure why I made so many....Wonder if anyone would be interested in buying something like this on etsy?

The pictures were fun to edit on picnik.
They remind me of watercolors.

I've also been working on my 'Beret Gaufre' hat :

Coco models hat

Again my model is available early mornings, and her only payment is a little back scratch.. I've shown her this way before, in March I believe. She loves to sit on my lap while I have coffee in the mornings. Don't mind the mess in the background of the picture-it's 'packing central'. She loves when you cover her eyes with a blanket so she sits there and looks at me while I knit until I give in and put the hat on her head. She seems to love it. So funny. Of course as soon as I took it off of her to get ready for school, I noticed a 1x2 inch section that was messed up-not Coco's fault, so I will have to try and redo that section. Why can't I just get a project right the first time?

This picture reminds me of the kid on Fat Albert, the cartoon.

We also spent 2 days in a row at Disneyland.( Just the afternoons). We've had a pass for about 15 years. When we move I will have severe Disneyland withdrawal :(
Here is a picture I tried to take in 'The Haunted Mansion'. Even tho' it's streaky, I thought it looked neat.



This is inside the Pirates of the Caribbean'. A view of the Blue Bayou restaurant. I love the lanterns and tried to take them without the flash. It's still pretty.

Well it's time to go back to work....Have a happy crafty day :)

Some new projects

On the needles, above , the 'Beret Gaufre'...I can't help but think of the 'Raspberry Beret' song when I look at it. I didn't do it on purpose, I had the yarn already laying around for socks or some project long forgotten. I'm not sure it's going to work out since it seems so fine- we'll see. Never did get around to finishing the other hat I had going- I should do that too.

I actually did get 2 cell phone cozies done yesterday. I will try and get them listed here after this....2 in one day! Amazing! ( pats self on back). Things have been expiring (on purpose) in the shop so I can put new things in...

The Log Cabin Bunny Cozy above. A different size and shape than I've had in the shop before. I use one like this myself, but mine's a little smaller.This one holds a smaller phone and a Bluetooth inside-(is that what they're called?? )
The back has polka dots:You can't go wrong with Polka dots right? And a cute little vintage button....

The button's glued on with gem-tac. One of my favorite supplies! I wasn't sure if it would last but I've used mine for months and so far it hasn't budged.
And another:
So far I'm calling this one the 'Paper Dolls' cozy. I think it was from a line of fabric that had paper dolls printed on it...I'll have to find it again and check.

A closeup of another vintage button. I love vintage buttons. Sometimes I have a hard time using them.
I'm not sure I can part with this one.


Better go get them listed.My daughter has a school concert -she's playing clarinet.
I need to pack and take them to Disneyland today and tomorrow too~ Just not enough time in my days!

Shopping for children on Mother's Day 'with' Chris Rock

Future Log Cabin Bunny Cell phone cozy

O.k, so we weren't actually shopping with him...Let me explain....

As usual, we had no particular plans for Mother's Day. My Mom moved out of state last year...and I don't like to make plans .
We ended up going to L.A. I want to go to some of our favorite places before we move, but when my kids hear L.A all they think is The American Girl store. My knitting shops were closed so I didn't really mind what we did.
First we stopped at an Italian restaurant that my husband has wanted to go to for awhile-yep, Mother's Day, all about me (lol).
Afterward we went to the American Girl store. Have you ever been there? They have these neat little I guess you'd call them 'vignettes'(?) , little 'rooms' featuring the Historical Dolls, oh maybe 8 or 10 ft square give or take...they show all of the clothes, some have little films of what it was like during the specific doll's era, props and so forth....My girls were looking for food. Doll food. Dolls have to eat too (!).We stopped in the 'Addie ' room , some people came in and I recognized Chris Rock right away. It's funny because it sometimes takes me awhile to recognize people I know outside of where I know them from, but I guess my kids have been watching Madagascar a lot lately and somehow I always end up stuck on the word 'crackalacking' for weeks....don't ask....
Anyway he turned his head to the wall trying not to be seen but I gave him a big smile and left him alone...no pictures, no autographs. He spent as much time in that place as us. Which for Mother's Day was a lot. I asked the girls if they wanted to ask him for his autograph but they were too shy.Did I mention they love Madagascar?? I spent my first ten years in and around L.A, and we always saw celebrities. The parents of most of the kids in my schools were 'in the biz' somehow. Some of the kids too.

Oh and I got a gift card for one of my favorite stores and a haircut 'card' too....

In other news...
I just finally got around to going to my P.O box and got the ring I won from Pixe's Treasure Chest
Very nice!

And a Panda note card from Patricia Snow

Really nice!

I've also gotten a teeny tiny bit of work done....

Log Cabin Bunny cell phone cases

Maybe I'll get them finished before everything in my shop expires!

I have been so super busy

Daisy camera case

MaMa~I am waiting to hear from you...I tried emailing...I will have to go ahead and go with my second runner up if I don't hear from you by May 20th.....Please contact me here as I would really love to get the Cheery Cherry Pouch off in the mail : )

I have been super busy and not crafting as much as I would like. ( Craft withdrawal cold turkey...Not so good ; ) )
Packing, volunteering, fixing up our home to rent....Throw in some sick kids and I'm not even getting much sleep!
Today, I have to go get ready for 2 jog-a-thons, library volunteering, and calling new schools...I keep playing phone tag with them ...

The above picture is just something from my shop...On husband's computer with no pictures to share except this one. I'm letting things expire in the shop and will slowly add new ones, when I get some time. Maybe this weekend:)

The Grand prize winner is.....MaMa !!

Step 1: Put names in hat. Try, and fail, to attract
attention of official spokes-pet

We have a winner!

The winner of the Cheery Cherry pouch is: MaMa ~Officially 'chosen by Coco' ; )

step 2: throw treat in hat

MaMa-I have sent you an email....Please write me back as soon as you can with your address so we can get that off to you. If you have not received our email, leave me a message here within the comments and let me know where I can contact you. I will be going with the second runner up if I have no news , on May 20th~Thanks for stopping by, we hope you'll like the new pouch ^_^

Cheery Cherry Etsy Anniversary Giveaway:)

How's that for a super long title? I've now officially been on Etsy for 1 year today. I believe my cousin (to whom I give most of the credit in pushing me to get started and helping me set the whole thing up) and I took at least a week figuring things out and getting things listed. It takes awhile when you're starting off from brand new! To help celebrate and show my appreciation to my customers, and blogging friends here, I am having a giveaway! I spent the last 2 days making something special: A Cheery Cherry Pouch. I love the happy red colors and the cherry pie theme :) I even machine embroidered a little cherry trim around the top (you can see it better if you click on the picture)

here's the front

here's the back

It's about 6 1/2 inches wide by 4 3/4 tall. Quilted cotton with cotton batting. Lined with black cotton. Oops, forgot to take a shot of that.

All you have to do for a chance to win is leave me a comment telling me either what your favorite item in my shop is, anything you think I should make more of, anything you like about my blog, or would like to read more about...
O.k, so you have from now til 6:30 a.m Pacific Time Wednesday May 6th. I'll announce the winner as soon as I can and let them know, at which time I'll ask for an address to send Cheery Cherry your way! Good Luck, Andrea
Oh and either my Studio Mascot Coco or one of my girls will pick the lucky winner! Very official ;0

Coco, the very official drawing spokes-pet

P.S, I'm keeping the comments 'hidden' til tomorrow:)

Quilting a prize

Since I got 'Patchwork Style' last week, and made the present, wink wink, I have re~discovered that I love working with batting. I have used it quite a bit before -but not usually quilting it.

quilted batting

with thread #592

Yesterday I tried making something for my upcoming blog giveaway (!) to celebrate my 1 year on etsy (tomorrow officially)....I thought I'd try something newish :

ta-da

My pouch pattern, this time I stitched in even spaced rows...Something new for me. This is one of my favorite fabrics and color combinations. Minty green and orange. I also love pink and orange. I remember hating orange growing up...Times change I guess.
If you've seen my shop you should know I am a perfectionist and my own worst critic. I will scrutinize every stitch. Probably why I don't have a lot of inventory. So here's what I found wrong with this pouch :
~The zipper, not totally perfect...I haven't made a pouch lately and somehow forgot how I installed the zipper. (If you've been reading my blog awhile you'll know I've been on a quest to find THE perfect way to install one. I lost the scrap of paper that I scribbled the notes on.
~The buttons...The orange button is too close to the orange flower....Why'd I do that?
~The lining...I somehow sewed it too close to the zipper and it gets stuck...

Um, that's about it. I think I just wanted to keep it :)

So I made another...


And, again, the zipper was too short and I tried to work with it, but not quite perfect. Then I found that scrap of paper...phew.
The shape's a little unsymmetrical now though from trying to make it all work....Oh no, I keep another one ;)

So now, I'm working on the last one before I give up. It's another cherry theme for the giveaway. I hope this one turns out right !

My official 1 year anniversary is tomorrow however it took my cousin and I a week or so to get it all going, so for that reason and because one of my girls is sick and I'm also packing, I'm not sure if I'll get it all done by tomorrow, but hopefully sometime this week...I'll keep you posted.

Have a happy creative day.

I won again!

I can't believe I won something again! This must be my lucky month-well, o.k April was too. I think I forgot to mention then that I won a print and Lulette ring from Noodle and Lou.... Oh boy, my good intentions sometimes end up on the back burner or forgotten when I'm super busy. I meant to do a post about that. I think I thought I did (!?!)...Where does the time go? :) .... Here is the link to the prize I won today....http://pixestreasurechest.blogspot.com . She has a blog too...Pretty Pretty.
Now I'm off to figure out my ring size and send her my address:)

Oh and this all reminds me I should have a giveaway for my 1 year anniversary on Etsy...coming up the 5th! Stay tuned.......