Back to the blog, been too busy, not interested, writers block, need to sew not type-the excuse list could go on and on forever. :)
Still sewing up a storm , still doing the craft shows, still loading the Etsy shop. I have added babysitting to my too busy life. It's great to have a baby or two back in my life. Love the little guys. Which I guess is why I have added diaper bags to my line of bags. Sold one already! This one is going supposedly to someone that is on MSNBC. Keep my fingers crossed it gets me some notice.

Today's craft fair

Not so much in the way of customers today-that's OK. I always meet the nicest people at craft fairs. And I did make a few sales, a few contacts for future work and of course bought a few items. Who doesn't need soap that looks like a slice of cake? And a shirt with a moose skeleton silk screened on it? I know sounds weird but a few things I had to have today. So I bought them. Helps out my fellow crafters also. I tired something a little new today also. I offered a purse up for raffle to raise money for American Cancer Society. Only got one taker so she automatically won. Oh well, I'll try again next week with a different purse or maybe lower ticket price. I had 5 bucks on them, maybe I should try 2. So of to make up a few orders I got last week.

Art Show

Woo Hoo- I entered an art show this month! never thought I would be the one in an art show. This one is specifically all about purses so I figured I should give it a try. Free advertising if nothing else. I made the bag from all recycled materials. I felted a wool sweater, used vintage lining material from my Mom, thanks Mom and the bamboo handles were off a discarded purse. Only thing new is the thread and the interfacing. The beads, sequins and shells are all 'found items" from tag sales, thrift stores and people cleaning out drawers. they say , "Here you want this stuff?" And of course I say, "Sure, I'll find something to use it on" Which is why I have so musch stuff! Love it though, allows me to make stuff on the cheap. So ihave the purse for sale too. See what happens. Here are some photos of it. And Tom and I did go to the opening wine and cheese party last night.

New Floor Pillow

Decided to give a floor pillow a try. I was asked to make them for someone else and haven't heard from her in a while so I am putting them out there and see where they go. The kids next door liked them that's for sure. They used it one night while I was babysitting, gave it a test ride for me. I imagine your dog or cat (kinda big for a cat) will love it to. Although I can't get my own dog on it, she sticks her nose up at it and heads for the bed instead. Choice of three different fabrics, all machine washable, 100% cotton and all made in America, the fabric, labor and pillow. Let me know what you think.

Rainbow Room in NYC

Wednesday I got to go to the Rainbow Room in Rockefeller center in NYC. We went (my cousin and I) to the WCBS Woman's luncheon. I went pretty much just to eat there and throw my business card around. Why not? A room full of women, someone must need a purse! Well no one has yet but maybe. So lunch was good and the speakers were good. Sad to hear the restaurant will be closing in June, it is a pretty neat place, views are spectacular from the 65th floor. So after lunch we went and did a little shopping. One of my favorite stores, Anthropolgie was right across the street. Picked up a few things then went over to Saks. Wanted to see if they had a clearance section-they do not. We did see that Clinique was having a nice give a way bag of goodies so we headed over to their counter. Ended up getting full face make up done. I was hot! Or so I was told. Also dropped a hundred bucks on make up. It was fun and I am worth it. Headed to Grand central after that and then home. All in all a good day. here are some pics, taken with my cell phone so not all that great of the views form the 65th floor.

April 20, 2009

Hey finally got around to sending in my Burda Style Bow Ties. They will be auctioned off to raise money for the cancer fund. You can visit the link below for more info. I made 3 all together, one for Dad, Little Peg and Patrick. Hope they are OK to auction off, never made bow ties before. Matter of fact the 1st one went in the scrap heap. Had a bit of trouble with turning! So here are some photos and I will keep up on any results, if they give them out.
http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/show/837

April 18th, 2009

Whew-Busy again. Our daughter had her appendix burst last week(turns out that was what was wrong with her when I last posted and I babysat for her) so needless to say that left me a little out of the loop and doing hospital runs all week. She is fine now and back home. School for her on Monday and maybe we can return to normalcy around here.
On the craft side of things, sales are very slow. I did make a sale today on Etsy, first one since February but no surprise there. I am not too good about keeping up with listing. I will try harder. Trying the Saturday night sale tip I got today from another Etsy vendor. See how that works out. Also did a few shows in the last couple of weeks. Made a few dollars but not a lot. I did make some good contacts today for retail sales. I am going to put some totes/grocery bags in 2 locations in Bethel and I have a name and place in Southbury to try. I have plenty of inventory so that isn't a problem. Got to get the pillows done for Terri too. Trying the wholesale business on that one. We''ll see how that goes. Other than that the weather is finally turning warm, got a little sunburn today sitting on the sidewalk waiting for customers.

April 5th, 2009

Wow what a week. I hope our 3 bad things(things always happen in threes) have happened and this is the end. On top of my Dad getting diagnosed with cancer, my nephew tried to light a fire using gasoline. Needless to say that literally blew up in his face. He is OK but what a scare. Now my brother in law is in the hospital, his diverticulitis inflamed and burst open so he had emergency surgery on his gut. I'm tired just writing about it. It's all very stressful too. I think that makes me tired also. good news is we sold both radio towers, one is already down and gone and the other should be out of there by Saturday night. Lot of hard work but it will be done and that's a good thing. Oh yeah and then last night I had to babysit because Meta had a bug of some sort. Didn't really mind, the boys are good, just not what I wanted to do.
So here is a picture though that will make me smile-asparagus is up. Yippee- pretty soon I'll be over doing it and the fiber will kill my gut but I don't mind.
Mmmmmm-asparagus

Made some wristlets over the weekend. This is one of them.Very easy and I don't need too much fabric. I like using up the little leftovers I have from my big purses. Also can "bundle" my products now. Offer a wristlet with a purse in coordinating fabric and give them a combined price. My new marketing strategy. OK so off to the sewing room to see if I can finish this floor pillow I am trying to get done. Hope this endeavor works out. Could be a big bust or it could be a real money maker. Terri seems to think they will sell. We'll see.

End Of An Era

My Dad has been diagnosed with cancer and is 86 years old. He must be thinking his end is near-we don't think that way- because he is starting to dismantle his house. He has been an amateur ham radio operator since he was 16-spent most of his free time on the air, building radios, fixing radios or going to radio flea markets. It was his passion and his hobby. Anyway last week he became insistent while he was in the hospital that the towers/antennae on the house come down and be gone. We didn't believe him at first and questioned him repeatedly to see if he really meant it. I hope he really did because he nominated my husband to take them down. And Tom did just that yesterday. So after all these years of listening to the squeaks, warbles, funny voices and Morse code emitting from the basement it will all be silent. No more tower whirring around on the roof . No more cold suppers because he was on the air waiting for a sched to talk to the other side of the world or a satelite to go by so he could transmit. It was a big part of our growing up listening to all that-he even put a speaker on the front lawn way back when so the neighborhood could hear Sputnik go over our heads.
I suppose the neighbors will be glad to see or not see the tower any more. It is rather ugly and did stick up pretty far over the roof. But to me the house will seem empty without it. A big part of my life was taken away yesterday too.

73's

Amy

Fabric Giveaway at A La Mode!

Another fabric giveaway! Cool stuff
http://alamodefabric.blogspot.com/2009/03/la-mode-giveaway-rules.html

Aww look how cute

I made these little fairies as give aways. How cute they are and fun to make to boot. Pretty much used stuff I have around the house. Pipe cleaners, yarn, silk flower petals and bits of lace. The only thing I had to buy were the beads for the heads. I then painted and sealed each one so all the faces and hair styles are different on each one. I did put pin backs on them so you can wear them if you want. So buy a purse and get a fairy!

March 26th 2009

Busy day today-off to the mat first thing to felt a load of sweaters. Not my favorite job but its the only way to get it done. Then ran to the grocery, not a real fan of that job either. Also must get done. Got home and called my little friend to catch up-1 1/2 hours later we a were done catching up. Before I knew it the 2 little darlings from next door were here so I could watch them for an hour or so while their Mom went to a kindergarten orientation. I have forgotten how quickly a toddler can trash your house. Somehow there is now hay all over the downstairs. Drat, I must get the vacuum-later. So needless to say I did not get any sewing done except for another eyeglass case while I sat at the laundry mat. So now I catch up and go downstairs maybe. Last night I was able to finish one of the dance bags I have on order. Came out pretty cool if I say so myself, good job on the color selections. Just hope the woman that wants it thinks so also! OK so of I go to see what I can get done.

Vintage Handerkerchief Eyeglass Case

Here is a couple of eyeglass cases I fashioned from just folding and hand sewing around the edges.
They do have a little padding in between the layers to protect your glasses when they are in the case.

Sevi Design Give Away!

Check out this link for a Amy Butler give away. Neat stuff on her blog too!

http://sevidesigns.com/

Amy Butler Giveaway at the Fabric Shopper

Follow this link to an Amy butler give away
http://the-fabric-shopper.blogspot.com/2009/03/5-weeks-of-amy-butler-week-5-bag.html

March 23 2009

Good Morning! Looks to be a sunny day although a bit nippy. Good day for a brisk walk which I will be doing shortly. Got to find some way to get rid of some of my winter fat. This retirement is tough on me too. I have more access to food and believe me I use it. No self control at times. Ahh well it could be way worse, 20 pounds overweight is nothing compared to troubles others have. Speaking of which, my Dad may be getting moved today to a rehab place. No side effects as of yet from the chemo, he just needs some PT to get his legs back under him, he is very shaky on his feet. So hopefully that will happen today.
As for craft news, got a few wristlets made yesterday, started a denim purse and worked on displays for the small items. I never like the way our table is set up. I am not good at this setting up stuff but i keep trying and i will get it. Plus Sue is very good at this she'll figure it out.
OK so off to start the day

March 22 2009

First flower in my yard this year! I did get out there and clean up the rest of the gardens. All done with that chore, now the fun part comes-weeding :(
Not for a while yet though, Tom has started most of our seeds and the greenhouse is open. I think this is the best part of the year.
Did get a few minutes down in the craft room and did finally take the dog for a walk. She's happy and so am I.
We went to see Dad last night, he is way back to normal-barking orders and assigning jobs. I think this is the best he has looked in quite a while, color was good and his hands aren't shaking anymore. He is getting way to used to being waited on though. The nurses and aides on his floor treat him very well and he really likes it. I hope he doesn't think this is going to continue at home!
So back to the basement after I put supper in the oven.

MArch 21 2009

Woo-Hoo -already hit a tag sale today. Spring must be here! Scored some cheap wool sweaters for felting, a few other useless items that I have big plans for and now I can get to sewing. Actually the sun is out so maybe I'll do some more yard work. I have a few gardens yet to clean out. It's a little nippy out there but once I'm moving I'll be fine.
I have 2 special orders to make but I don't want to start the until I get the go ahead on the fabric I picked out. Meta took it with her to dance today to get the OK. Tom suggested making heavy duty bags for gardening, I may go downstairs and see what I have for canvas that I can use to make a couple. I did sign up for 2 shows in April, now would be the time to sell gardening bags. Duh!
So I'm off -talk to you later.

March 20th 2009

Happy Spring-in a few minutes winter will be behind us! The robins are out in full force in the backyard, no worm is safe right now. Daffodils are half way up and it just smells good out there. Pretty soon I can drag out all my ornamentation that I use in the garden, Tom says it is the Italian in me. I must have cement chachkies(?) in my yard.
Last night I went to the studio to pick up Meta and I got 2 orders for bags and sold one wristlet. Woo-Hoo! So this is working so far. Tom came up with the idea of a brochure I can hand out with the bags that outlines all the products I make and what I use to make them. I really like that idea, I'll be working on that today. And on making a few bags too. So off to start the day.