I made this

OK. Tomorrow is the big day. I think I’m ready. Anyway, here’s the final inventory:

45 purses

60 magnets

56 tooth fairy pillows

27 cards

10 brooches

1 necklace

1 crocheted flower

So. I’ll let you know what happens! Whoo Hoo!

thanks to Natalie Dee for the cartoon

I met a very nice American lady in Starbucks several weeks back. We exchanged phone numbers etc. I have since lost that piece of paper. And to make matters worse, I received an email as blunt as can be entitled something like “American Lady”. t. But I still saw it and spammed it immediately before actually reading it. I feel awful. It hit me as soon as I hit delete that it might be my new friend. But now I have no way of contacting her again. Soooooooooooooooooooo……

If you are reading this, PLEASE accept my apology. And PLEASE write again. Or better yet comment here. Then I’ll know it’s not spam.

I’m going now to pick up Dad & Debbie at the airport. Talk to you soon!

Oh. My. God. I was at a PTA meeting the other night. I agreed to help out with the upcoming (in 2 weeks) Christmas Fair. We were discussing the stalls available. Then I remembered what my friend Hazel had suggested, that I should try and sell some of the stuff I make. So I up and opened my mouth and have agreed to running my own craft stall! AHHHHHHHHH!

Part of me is scared to death of making a complete fool of myself. I mean, I know it’s ‘only crafts’, but it’s still stuff I’ve made and stuff I think is pretty cool. But the other half of me is very very excited at the response. Will they like it? Will the kids want some of this stuff? And then suddenly (in my head) I’m a cottage industry traveling to craft fairs and village shows selling my one of a kind craft goods.

I have to admit that the idea of earning money for the family makes me really happy. And proud. I sure hope this works out. Anything is better than nothing, right?

Anyway, here are some of the things I’ve made. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK! How much should I charge? Any ideas of making it better?

I’ve used those things to make magnets. I made some like this as well. And I altered this pattern to make a lined purse. I’m going to appliqué and embellish the other purses I make. I’ll be doing one for Alex with a big A on the front and the same for Betty with a b, of course. I’m going to print out the letters (using courier text or schoolbook) and use it as a pattern for the appliqué.

What else? Oh yeah. I’ve made some hair clips as well. Not too sure about these, to be honest. They look a lot better in the hair, that’s for sure.

I have to say that my favorite, so far, are the tooth fairy pillows. Hazel gave one to us and I loved it. I stole the idea and came up with these. This one is my favorite. I love the back, too.

I tried to make some necklaces, but would love to get your opinion on these before making some more. They are easy, but a bit time consuming. I don’t think I’ll be able to charge enough to make it worth my while.

Finally, I’ll be framing these to show as something to make and personalize to order.

Another idea is to make Christmas stockings for the kids and then display them as made to order. I’ll be doing some little Christmas ornaments, thats a given. I also ran up a little quilted linus blanket that I’d like to show as made to order as well. But I’d want them to give me an old piece of clothing to add it to make it more personal. Hearts, trees and stars. And, finally. I’ll be baking. I’ll be whipping up some rocky road fudge, mexican wedding cookies and maybe a sweet potato pie or three.

Anyway, PLEASE COMMENT and let me know what you think, ideas, pricing…

THANK YOU!

I was adding a member (welcome!) to the I MADE THIS, too blogroll and, while checking out her site, found this. Pretty cool. I should’ve changed mine to ‘genius’, too, but it didn’t occur to me.

I guess it’s pretty accurate afterall, huh?

OK, so I had a manic craft session this evening. We went to the park earlier today and took along a picnic. Came home and I was itching to make something. So I made a braided fabric wreath (It took two days in the end). It isn’t by any means perfect, but that’s ok. Nothing I make is ever perfect and I hate perfection anyway. (It doesn’t even exist, so how can I hate something nonexistent?) It’s also not Christmas in nature, which is also ok because I’d like to be able to have it up all year round.

1. So, first I decided on the fabric. I cut out (Tore, actually. I like rough edges.) 3 pieces of fabric approximately 4 feet long (3.5 feet ended up being ok.) by about 14 inches wide(4inches ended up working out a lot better! What was I thinking?). Again, I wanted fat plaits. (And boy did I get them!) Which reminds me. I was sitting at the table sewing and Alex was drawing hearts to use as patterns for the Christmas ornaments. (Which ended up as a garnish for the wreath.) Anyway, out of nowhere she up and asks me, “Mommy, what’s it like being fat?”  I felt like asking her what it’s like to be a cheeky little whatsit, but decided against it. After all. I am really fat. I’m the fattest I’ve ever been. Ever. I even weigh more than I did when I was pregnant. Which reminds me. I was at the doctor’s last week picking up a prescription when a friend I hadn’t seen in a very long time looked at me and remarked on how big I am getting. I remarked,” Yes! And I’m not even pregnant!” And on the playground, in front of the other mothers, Jackson began to rub my belly chanting ‘baby’.  I need to lose a serious amount of poundage.

2. So back to the pattern, of sorts. Then I folded them length ways right sides together and sewed them along the top, side and almost all along the bottom, leaving the top open to turn.

3. I turned them all inside out so the right side was showing.

4. I filled it with batting. This took such a long time. Especially since after realizing what a huge goof up I’d made with the first attempt, I ended up stuffing about 6 of these suckers. I’ve got two fabric snakes writhing around my living room. The kids use them to beat each other or to pretend to put out fires. Anyway, that 15mm knitting needle came in really handy for shoving the batting down to the end.

5. There’s no way I can explain how I managed to plait it all together. I make-shift sewed them altogether to start with, and then once plaited, sewed them together at the other end. I hand sewed in a very erratic manner at the back to get the ribbon loop on and the plaits to look like they ‘fit’ together.

Anyway, I proudly hung it on the door. Graeme passed by and cracked up.

Me: What?

G: giggle

Me: WHAT?

G: uh hmmm. Well, it’s certainly original.

ME: I like it.

G: I know you spent a long time on this Trish.

Me: But?

G: It looks like someone ripped out your intestines and braided them, made a circle and hung it on the door.

Me: I still like it. And it’s staying.

G: giggle giggle snigger

Men. They’ve just no appreciation for art.

I forgot all about this. Just before school started again, Alex managed to get Gold Nail Polish in her hair. I was in two minds whether or not to just cut it all off. Between this and the constant snips by Jackson and Alex, I thought it might teach her a lesson. But I decided to just send her to school with a head full of matted nail polish instead. Looks pretty nasty, but it did eventually flake out…. much like myself!

to school and nursery, that is. Just wanted to drop in and say hi. I am definitely busy on a couple of projects, but mostly working on getting back into a routine. Anyway, that’s it for now! Short but sweet.

We went to Darlington today. I had to dispute a parking ticket. Alex closed the car door on her finger on arrival. I haven’t really visited much since we moved several year ago. That’s where Alex was born, who, by the way, lost that second tooth this morning. She worked on it for about an hour before telling me it ‘fell out’. It really feels like a milestone. As big as learning to walk. Last night I yelled at some ‘yobs’ who had managed to climb into my back garden. This happened at 1am. Alex woke up with a ‘nightmirror’ soon after. She asked me if the tooth fairy had visited and was very disappointed when she found the first pillow empty. Well that soon changed as she checked the next pillow and found 3 coins. She was so excited. She wants to make a thank you card for Toothie.

We had lunch at McDonald’s before going to TK MAXX to spend my voucher. Wait til you hear what I decided to spend it on.

1. Some Oilily trousers for Betty

2. A new overtheshoulderboulderholder

3. My very first girdle with longer legs, of course

4. A new nightgown

5. An insulated picnic hamper

NOBODY can say naught against those choices. What woman wouldn’t wanna those?

Anyway, it’s late and I suppose I should be getting to bed before 1- I pass out or 2- my bladder bursts.

Good Night!