I made this

So when I wake up in the morning I’ll be 40 year old. My friend Hazel cross stitched this for my 40th birthday. Isn’t it great? I love that she has chosen the good old Red, White and Blue. And I also really like the quilting theme. It’s very very much appreciated. Hazel is one of the few people I know who take the time to make something to give as a gift. I feel very special.

Betty wearing my nifty “I’m 40 and I love my girdle!” girdle. My, I do like my granny underwear.

I finally got around to sewing up some Roll-Ups.

As you can see, I made the Knitting Needle Roll-Up too short. I’ve never used a pattern, instead eyeballing everything. Sometimes I get lucky, but not this time. It’s OK, though.

The crochet Roll-up turned out pretty good.

And I made this one for Betty for her crayons. I reckon they’ll make cool children’s presents once sewn and given with a brand new set of crayons.

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!

I’ve been concentrating on making the little purses. It would have been much quicker if I’d used ribbon rather than making the handles. But it looks loads better. I still don’t know how much to charge, but I’ve already sold two at £3 each and have personalized and made 2 tooth pillows for £2 each. I’ve since bought fabric paint to personalize rather than embroidering anything more. It just takes too long. So, total inventory after a week’s work (how sad) is:

28 purses

10 tooth pillows

30 magnets

10 clips

Good googilly moogilly.  That’s not much at all. But it’s gone so slowly, even with Hazel’s help. Hazel, THANK YOU for helping me make the little flowers for the purses. That’s another time consuming task. She helped me to knock out loads one morning over lunch and a good chat. Hazel’s so awesome.

Anyway, that’s still not a lot of inventory. But (and this is a great help) my Dad and Debbie are arriving tomorrow morning from the states. They’ll be with us until after the new year. I can crank out loads of stuff once they’re here. I’d like to have 40 each of the pillows and purses. I’ve also purchased some card stock to make some quilted cards (idea courtesy of craftapple). I reckon I can knock out 50 of those in a day. Once the fabric has been cut and pasted on, it’s just a matter of doing some stitches on the seams for effect. Maybe I should give 2 days for that. I’ve got another 30 magnets to make. That I can do this morning. I also have loads of hearts. I thought I’d blanket stitch 2 together with a bit of ribbon to hang on a tree or to tie onto a bookbag. Then I’ll use those trusty old paints to personalise them. I’ll only do a few and take orders. After reading Knitty McKnit Knit’s advice, I think I’ll seriously tone down the ‘made to order thing’. She’s right. She’s so clever, too. You should go over and say hi.

OK. That’s it for now. I’ll write more later. Here’s to hoping that I have enough to sell on the day. And that I’ve spent my time wisely!

: )

So I’ve been sewing and sewing and embroidering little hearts. Anyway, here’s a few. Not being funny, but they really do look better than the photos show. I used a flash and it’s drained all the colour from the pictures. And I didn’t take time to show the linings which coordinate nicely.

more to come

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’ve just finished my Christmas gift for Gran & Grandad (My mother & father in law). It was so easy and went very very quickly. All we have to do now is have it framed! It sure feels good to get a head start. I also finished this one. It didn’t turn out nearly as nice, but it was my first attempt. There’s always a steep learning curve. Anyway, gotta run. I need to pick up Alex and Jackson from school.

cute, but it was lost by the end of the day.

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.