Victory!!

Etsy Favorite

I love Etsy. It's not only a great tool to post my own creations but a wonderful place to see other people's work. I have a few favorite sellers on Etsy, so I'm going to try to post some of their work on Fridays. Today is K. Garner Designs. I bought an initial pendant necklace from her and I love it, LOVE it. I wear it all the time and get amazing compliments on it. If you have someone that is hard to buy for this holiday season, please consider her as a source. She even offers gift certificates!

Creative?

At my new job, i work with a lot of very crafty women. A couple of them quilt, one works with fleece and another one also makes cards/stationary. The group of us have been trying to get together for an official Stitch and Bitch session. Crafty Planet has these at their shop in Minneapolis, and i loved the concept. I'm really hoping this session brings out a new wave of creativity for me. I have a TON of projects that i would love to get started on, but with work being so tiring lately, i've had trouble finding the motivation for it. I have a Sublime Stitching embroidery pattern calling my name in particular that i can't wait to get started on. We were supposed to meet tomorrow but due to one of the girls moving, we're postponing until maybe the first week in October. [sigh] I can't believe it's already going to be October soon... Seems like time flies when you're not having fun too...

Hope all is well with you!

Heather Bailey

As some of you have already figured out i heart Heather Bailey - everything she does just amazes me. Well, she has launched her new store - and i couldn't be more excited. I've been chomping at the bit waiting for Pop Garden and Bijoux to arrive in a fabric store, and now she's letting her fans pre order her stuff with a 10% discount. I love all of them, and want to do amazing things - I can't wait to get my fabric in! If I was a scrapbooker i would also be in love - her paper line is oozing with inspiration. This also allows me to get those trash ties i've always wanted to try too...

image from http://www.heatherbaileystore.com/

threadalicious

i went to the twin cities this weekend to visit my friend Jessica. we took an adventure on one of the hundreds of highways/interstates within the conglomerate to find a fabric gem. this was recommended to me by my friend Kali, and she is a great friend for directing me there. it's called S.R. Harris, and it is a warehouse, not much to look at from the outside, but nothing but theadalicious eye candy on the inside. zippers for 50 cents, wool for $5/yd, twill, tweed, leather, home dec as far as you could see. i was in heaven. and just like heaven you are so stunned for the first minute or two, you just stare. so we were the awkward girls blocking the doorway for 5 minutes. but that's okay, i got some great prints, solids, zippers (i might as well start collecting them for all the ones i buy) and it was still cheaper than i thought it was going to be!

and then, after Jessica saw how big my eyes could get with some fabric in front of them, she took me to her favorite place in northwest minneapolis - Crafty Planet - which has the best selection of hip prints that i've ever seen. (please keep in mind that i live in iowa. iowa is generally 3-5 years behind most industry trends.) i have never seen an entire line of amy butler lined up together until Crafty Planet - and they had 3! cherry lotus is usually sold out everywhere - i bought a lot just to ensure it was there when i needed it. she had joel dewberry, heather bailey (not Pop Garden yet), heather ross, a great alexander henry collection, and some great ones that i haven't seen before. i would love to open up something like this shop in central iowa - perhaps i will call the owner about a chain... :)
i was thoroughly impressed by the fabric resources in minnesota - and will be going back on a fairly regular basis.

i try to travel frequently, so please share what your favorite stores are in your area - i would love to add them to an itinerary!


Correction: top print is Echino and the bottom is Joel Dewberry - thanks Amanda :)

fork?

does anyone know a way to get more hours out of the day? props to anyone out there working more than one job or working full time with family or doing what you love on the side of working... basically i'm in awe of the amount of things people get done in their lifetimes, and i feel as though i'm not keeping up fast enough. I have more ideas than i have time and i have more ambition than i have patience.

it felt a little different when i was at a job where i had nothing to do all day to my current job where i can barely find time to leave my cube get get more caffeine. sigh. don't get me wrong, i love my new job and i love sewing, creating, etc, but when i read the stories of Heather Bailey and such I feel like i almost need to choose, like she did. but i don't know if i can yet...

P.S. I'm totally stoked for Heather Bailey's new fabric line - it's hitting stores in July!

embroider

my grandma used to do cross stitching when i was younger, i used to love to watch her do it, but instictively knew that i wouldn't ever have the patience to do it. i feel i have now found an alternative that could produce some beautiful from needle work with less of a time commitment... embroidery.

Jenny Hart at Sublime Stitching has inspired me. i ordered my first kit and can't wait to get started. there are so many awesome patterns that i can't wait to try and spruce up my sewings with. i started with this one, but know there are several more i want to purchase... like this one, and this one, and this one... oh this is going to be awesome :)

picture from Sublime Stitiching

CraftStylish

this site has been added to my list of daily hits and for those of you that like to make purses/bags this is definitely the post for you. i'm not a knitter, but there seems to be a lot of information out there on it and many other topics. hope you enjoy!

fridge

found a new area of inspiration for my magnetic surface that holds food - tetris mangnets! Check out the tutorial here. considering that's the only game i ever played on a super nintendo, i was thoroughly impressed.

people

there are some great people in this world. fantastic ones in fact. i was having a crap week up until wednesday - then i went to dinner with my best friends in the whole world (minus my sister, she had to work) and they all cheered me up with our senseless banter and obnoxious laughing. nothing makes me happier then to be surrounded with the people i love most. as if i didn't have enough to do (again, i'm so happy my husband is independent and patient) me and my friends are going to be in a sand volleyball league in may (it better be done snowing by then!) and we have plans to hang out again next saturday. i refuse to let these ladies drift out of my life - they are my support and strength in every instance i need them.

there was also a great surprise when i was picked to make bridesmaids gifts for a girl's upcoming wedding. she was completely fantastic and i feel like we just clicked (double left) and we totally got each other for what i was imagining and what she was wanting. i love being a designer! vive la kateidesign!

YAY!

My pattern review is up at Sew Mama Sew! Please go out and read it and let me know what you think of the dress!

creative

while in the fabric store i had an epiphany about some new accessories i could make with this fabulous fabric that i found. i got 2 of the 6 items completed, you can see them on my etsy shop. (it's the link over there --> ). i also painted a 3 pc. acrylic canvas set for our living room. that task can finally be crossed off the list, it only took like 8 months - but it's done now and that's what's important. i love it, and will post pictures soon.

accomplish

i have finished it - i made my first amy butler dress and it turned out fabulous. that woman can design. i'm not 100% sure i like the colors, but it seems to be photographing well. the review will be published sometime after march 10th. thank you beth and kristin for letting me write the review for their website, sew mama sew. i hope you enjoy it!

progress

i made the home page for my first website design project, now i have to decipher his other requirements to make sure it all flows together.

agenda for tonight and this weekend:
build 4-5 more pages
sew all the baby blankets i have orders for
sew the wallet for my friend
make kathi's birthday present

sigh... good thing my husband knows i love him regardless of how much attention i send his way.