Etsy Again

Well. I did it.

I got one lonely little owl listed on my Etsy page.

It looks like a mug shot but it will do for now.

I have decided I am going to try next time with a little staging - like I did in the past.

What I really need is for the snow to melt and the sunshine to dry off the grass so I can take pictures of them in their natural environment.  ;)

Outdoor always seems to work better for me even though I have so much admiration for the many skilled photographers on Etsy that take fabulous photos I need all the help I can get and the outdoor light is a really big help!

Have a wonderful Sunday ~

Pinterest Monsters

So the other day PITA Facebooks me a message. She needs a favour.

Her oldest son, my cute-y pa-tootie nephew has his first loose tooth.  She needs a tooth fairy pillow stat.

She hinted that she was going to do it herself but we all know, that that hint was her beating around the bush because she wanted to ask me.

I put an end to it and offered. Not because she wanted me to but because I did!

I had seen monster tooth pillows on Pinterest - even had one pinned - so I had a general idea of what I wanted to do.

The Pinterst Version
{Via}

Turns out it was a very quick and easy project.

I did not use the tutorial at The Long Thread (obviously) as the photo was enough for me, but it looks like it would be helpful if need be. I just had a look at it, and the tutorial cuts the body out at 6 1/2" square and mine was 8".  I am happy with the result and am not one for following instructions.

(Aside:  I took a left brain right brain test yesterday.  I scored 71% right brained.  The results of the test suggested that I need to work on my left brain skills. Eeck!)

I used a royal blue sweater I had cut up for owl making, some interfacing (to keep the sweater from stretching), a scrap of wool felt for the teeth, eyes I had ready to go for the owls, a couple of buttons and a scrap of orange fabric (inside the mouth) and got it done within a half an hour!

My Version

Pretty cute, eh?

Seems Like I am Always in Action

I have been so busy selling what I make that I have not had time to talk about it!

Nag and I went to an amazing craft market in beautiful Nelson BC, the Kootenay Artisan Market,  and made a suitcase full of money.  Been attending lots of smaller, less lucrative ones as well.  Lots.  I have attended at least 2 a month since May and I am pooped! Ready to sew something new rather than what I know I will sell.  I have lots of ideas brewing!

I was at the local mall this last weekend.  It is probably the quietest of all the markets I attend but at is organized by father and brother in law it is not optional.  Two more to go and I can rest. :)
My table at the Kootenay Artisan Market looked so good!  It had to be against the wall, which is new for me, and I was worried but it was actually better than when I am behind the table and I was unable to get away with hiding which I think worked in my favour.

I went out on Saturday night for the first time in ages.  I was so hung over it was disgraceful - but funny - and my spirits were still up so it was all good.  It was a good thing I had Nag with me to take care of me. I am so often thankful for her and I am not just saying that because I know she read this. ;)

Anyway, I better get back to work.

31 Days of Pinterest, Day 24

I may have mentioned before, that since we went on our summer vacation, I have been really focused on (bahahaha - I am never REALLY focused on anything!) de-cluttering and organizing so today I did a bit of that.

{via}

One of the things I did was fill (another) box to take to the thrift shop.  This one with (gasp) china and glass wear.  I am a terrible hoarder when it comes to these (and many other) things.  I have already taken one thing out of the box... To be fair, there is a lot in the box and I plan to put even more into it.  :)

The other thing I did was clean out my pots and pans cup board and hang my lids, I got the idea from Pinterest of course.

So hopefully I will continue to make some progress.  I need to de-clutter so I can move on to the next step - taking out a wall or two...

31 Days of Pinterest, Days 10, 11 and 12

I got nothin'.

It has been a stupid week at work - I practically worked full time, eeck!

And we got the puppies - and they are fabulous.

And I am participating in cooking Thanksgiving dinner tonight at PITA's.

And I have been trying to stay awake to sew at night cause I have custom orders to do while still getting out of the house (showered and coiffed) by 8am.

My life is rough! ;)

Ooh, and I did finish the stocking I posted about! See!

31 Days of Pinterest, Day 8

OMG - I just logged onto Pinterest and got a very disturbing message that said that something went wrong and they lost their engineers.  (Okay it said they notified them but that is not what I read!!) I had a little bit of a heart attack.  Not even kidding.

To loose all of the information I have hoarded and gathered and loved and nurtured would be devastating. Can you create a back up of your Pinterest Boards???  Then I would need a back up of the back up.  So paranoid!

(Aside:  I am a horrible speller - like super bad (although I do know one other grown, otherwise intelligent person who is worse). I just proof read and realized that I had typed (and spell checked to) neutered instead of nurtured!)

So today's pin is another exciting one (for me anyway!).  I am going to be assisting in teaching a class at the beginning of November and am going to make my sample tonight.  Its been a while since I wore that hat but I am looking forward to it!

This is the lovely and talented Krista, from Miija Threads, sample.  Mine will be the same fabrics in a different colour way. I will probably never get around to taking a photo so I will steal to Krista's when I am done. :)

31 Days of Pinterest, Day 2

Today's 31 Days of Pinterest post, brought to you by Tampax.  Well not really, but...

I saw this on Facebook this morning and new without a doubt it would be my post for today!  I have pinned it onto my OMG board, but I am thinking it should have made it onto my I Can Make That board instead... hmm tough decision! ;)

So the best art of this is that when looking for the original photo to pin, I came across a whole website dedicated entirely to TAMPON CRAFTS. What an excellent way to start my day - laughing!

Haha  :D Tina

Wordless Wednesday

A family photo. :)

Man!

I just cannot seem to find enough time to do anything but work on my current obsession (sewing!!!) - which is clearly not this blog!

I am so into sewing right now it's crazy. I always love it but it has become like my drug.  If I weren't selling it, I guess I would stop. But I love it and I am so I won't.

I keep telling myself that when the current batch of bags and owls is done I will do a really freakin' awesome post about them.  You know, photos and the whole bit... haven't seen it yet, have yah?

Here is a photo or two, from a market I attended a few weeks ago. (Nag is hidden in one of the shots - can you spot her?)

;) T.

Random Bits of Happiness

{via}

Well, it's been an interesting weekend.

It was The Little Man's birthday and there were a crap load of 10/11 year old boys here over night.  I am such a good  Mum (toot toot) - although CH is the one who stays up and then wrangles them all to sleep I even did that this weekend.  Not that there was much wrangling, I they were actually better than I expected and settled down by about 2 am.  (And yes Mum if you are reading this I know that is too late for 'little' kids to stay up.)

I found a pictorial tutorial on Pinterest that shows how I do my zipper pockets.  It is super easy, I was terrified of zipper pockets until I tried this and now I put them in all my bags.  The only part that ever gives me any trouble is getting the zipper to be in the exact right spot.  I am kind of funny that way.

I finished up some bags I was making this week and am working on some decorated zipper pouches. My friend Krista - who is an amazing photographer of inanimate objects - is going to take some product shots for me to create a portfolio so I can send my stuff to some of the fancy consignment stores that are in this amazing, creative province of ours. I will make sure I post them and put my money where my mouth is.  I know I talk a lot about my sewing but do not show much of the proof.  You can see some of my stuff here.

I have been a sewing machine lately. I have been feeling very lazy and unorganized, and that seems to be all I really want to do.  When I became semi-retired I became a horrible time waster.  It takes me twice as long to do everything!

{via}

Since I did not really do anything new this week, I will share some of my pins with you.  :)

{via}

When I showed this one to Penelope - she said.  "Oh, I could totally use that!'  She is so odd - I love that about her.  She did not think it was weird at all, only useful. I suppose that if I were 7 and constantly eating my own hair I might see the practical rather than the comedic value of such a device.

I actually went to the app store and downloaded Web MD to see if this is the result that I got - and it was!

What was I saying about wasting time....

 ;o)  Tina

Snap365, Days 21 through 29

A lot of days...  oops.  Should have made two posts out of but now I am thinking maybe it is a good way to review my week... :)

:)

Day 21 :: Arrived home from Vancouver to nothing but good mail - that never happens! I was so excited to receive a little gift and a very nice card from my dear friend who lives in England. xo

Surely sent me a present, I suppose she is thinking about me since it has been TWELVE years since she left me promising it was only a year and it would go by fast. What a jerk. :p

Love, Fabric

Day 22 :: My stash was calling my name all day today asking me to come home and sew, now I am here and I don't know what I want to do more - a new bag, owls, zipper pouches... I just can't decide. ;)

Why?!

Day 23 :: My husband drinks a lot if Pepsi - a lot. The fact that he is driving himself to the land of Diabetes is one thing, the fact that he leaves his empty (and sometimes not) cans all over the place DRIVES ME NUTS!! But then, it gives me something to blog about. ;)

Note:  I know this is a repeat for y'all but I used it in my Snap365 too so here it is. ;)

Eyes

Day 24 :: Getting ready to make a batch of owls. Thank goodness I bought that circle cutter!

She Sews

Day 25 :: Okay, maybe she doesn't sew but she chose all the fabric and cut it all out and stuffed it with almost no help from me. :)

She decide that we needed to figure out a way to make sleepy eyes. She her creativity is amazing, once she gets a hold of needle and thread and the desire to make them work she is going to create truly amazing things. She can already draw ten times better than me. I am going to suggest that her crazy hair has something to do with this but it is pool hair. ;)

Ready to Stitch!

Day 26 :: Obviously I have been sewing and not much else in the last couple of days. Not complaining!

And They Are Done!

Day 27 :: Well almost. I still have a few things to do to the bags and to stuff these guys. I love it when a new batch is done, I always fall in love with one - this time it is the pink one . :)

Violent Violet

Day 28 :: This is Violet. She is the prettiest cat I have ever seen - hands down - she hates me. For really. She is trying to kill me with her laser beam eyes!

This cat was rescued by ME.  CH did not want any more cats but I brought her home, all tiny and cute because I am a soft hearted dumby and now, she is all grown up and hates me.  If I talk to her or walk toward her she growls at me 8 times out of 10!

Vintage Smokies Merch!

Day 29 :: My father in law was on the Smokies executive back in the day and gave me these circa 1975 buttons. I'm pretty excited to show one off at the next game!!

There you go. :o)  Tina

(My photostream)

Very Pinteresting

This week I made a lot of bags and owls, including this one that I found on Noodlehead, via Pinterest (of course!). I actually bought this pattern. It has an interior zipper to close the bag and I need to learn how to do that so I splurged. I, of course, being a rule breaker will follow none of the other instructions and just do it my way...

I also, stumble upon the receipt for Amish bread sour dough starter on Saturday and got started on it on Sunday - I was pretty excited I had made this super delicious Amish Friendship bread that was like a cinnamon vanilla pudding monster cookie in my past life and H1 THREW MY STARTER AWAY! I still have the recipe and I am sure I could have Googled it or something but suddenly, there is was.  As if it were calling my name telling me to bake.

Last week my fabric stash was calling my name, this week it is, apparently, my recipe box. ;)

When I make it, I will post the recipe for my version of this yummy bread (cake) and if you live near by I will be more than happy to share my starter with you.  All you need to do it COMMENT and ask. ;)

:o)  Tina

My First Ever Zipper Pouch!

Viola!  My first ever successful zipper pouch made using a combination of two tutorials.  I am terrible at following sewing instructions (maybe more than just sewing) so I combined the two and added (or changed) a few steps of my own. I am very happy with it and am planning to make more this week - but you know how that goes...

The tutorial I used to do the nice tidy square corners it is here.  There are a lot of great patterns for sale on this site as well, I might be considering purchasing one or two of them.

:o)  Tina

I Did It!

But it is the middle of the night and I am going to bed.  I will post a picture for you tomorrow night sometime...  I have a busy day tomorrow.  I am going to regret staying up so late!!

What I Have Been Up To...

First of all, I gotta tell you I am still pretty pooped.

This last couple of weeks has been chaotic for me.  Both of my kids have been sick with strep throat (which I luckily did not get even though it is the one thing I am prone to) - Penelope was home all last week and The Little Man all this week.  CH has been having a really hard time with a migraine pretty much non-stop since we went to Calgary for Thanksgiving. The shop has been packed up (we are almost done!) and brought home - which in itself is a huge job that I have ahead of me, but one I am looking forward to. I worked in Castlegar and at Brost Auto last week, but this week I skipped Castlegar.  I value my sanity more than a pay cheque.

Anyway, I have, in all of that, still found some time to sew.

I did some machine embroidery for work. Me, who cannot chew gum and do anything else at all.  Machine embroidery and sewing with my other sewing machine making little zipper pouches at the same time.  Two sewing machines going at once.  Life is fabulous!

I made this one a while ago but I am surrounded by too much stuff to take good photos of the ones I made this week.  They are in what I think of as "adult" fabrics - black and whites, leopard print, and a red swirl.

On the weekend I finished up two bucket bags from a pattern I bought here.

I am not posting the picture of the other one because it is terrible!  The picture - not the bag.  It is pink with a blue floral pocket and I am considering keeping it for myself.  As with every pattern I purchase, I purchased it for the templates only and made it my way.  What I learned - and I think it will apply to all the bags I make from now on - fusible fleece on the outside makes for a better structured bag. :o)

K.  My goal for next week is to get some stuff onto my Etsy store - which is in a sad state of affairs.  Nag has been keeping up the shops Etsy store, thank God for that.

Gonna go and do some sewing.

:o) Tina

My Block Swap Adventure

I joined a block swap - which I should have waited to do until fall but I am hoping that the recipients will love  the blocks I am sending enough that they won't be too upset with me.

The first block I sent was this one, you can read a posting about it on the Block Swap Blog. Lana (the recipient) was very complimentary.  :o) When I sent it I worried that it would be too bright and too much...

And then, I was lucky enough to received these beauties - I so badly want a scarp 54-40 quilt and I also grateful to be part of the swap because now I have others to add to my blocks, of which I have made none.

This sweet block will be perfect in my quilt -
thank you Jen Dickson !

This bold and beautiful block was sewn for me
by Lana Dunkerley. Thank you Lana!

If I had blog addressed for these lovely ladies, I would link them up...  I looked, got side tracked for like an hour and found lots of other sites I might like to do block swaps with and then came back with nothing.  Hmmm. Anyway, this is the block I completed last night to return to Jen.  I hope she likes it - it was A LOT of work cutting all those little squares.  It took me three nights to cut and one to sew - granted I work at the speed of snail.

:o)  Tina