New Handbag

Here is a custom order handbag that I've been working on. I really like the peacock with the cool feathers. I used a linen for the front with Amy Butler fabrics for the feathers, the peacock body is a woolen felt. The applique is my on design and was a lot of fun to create. Of course as always I get nervous doing custom orders. I always worry that it isn't what they had in mind. It's so much easier selling things already made. Do any of you feel the same or is it just me?

I have been featured on my peeps Jodi Reeves blog The Creative Jar, it's her 1000th blog post so hop over and say hi and congratulations.

I have a lot of ideas in my head right now and hope to share more with you soon.

Puppy Pop Art Project

It's done! Yippee! The Puppy Pop Art piece is complete, I would like to do this again. That isn't something I say every time I finish a project. In hindsight I will make a few changes next time.
I knew I wanted to include Bailey's name into the piece but didn't leave enough room once said and done. However if there's a will there's a way and I think it works. I have included the Bailey inspiration picture for you to compare as well. The last post I included a link for instruction for those interested.

The bird pillow is the same birdie applique I used on my toaster cover. I just added a bit more of a branch. The birdie is black ultra suede fused on Amy Butler fabric. Thanks again Leah of Sew Spoiled for the free applique. I'm sure I will use this sweetie for awhile. Get your free applique here.

Some new hooties have hatched, now I want a basket or a tree or something for them to hang out. They look kind of sleepy don't you think? Note the awesome tree behind them from my peep Jodi Reeves.

Head on over to The Creative Jar and post a comment to win something from Jodi.

I'm loving all the freebies!

Centennial Holiday Show

The last big show of the year is this Saturday and Sunday. Whew! I have made a few new goodies....sweet tweets, peeps, aprons and owl shadow boxes. Here is a little preview.
As said in last post I am nervous about this event so send all your good vibes my way this week end. I did get some support from Erika of Kitsch Designs about indoor set up, thanks so much! If you don't know Erika I urge you to check out her sites, she uses vintage fabric to create the coolest things. Plus she is a super duper nice person.

Several of you have inquired about the owl shadow boxes and want to know when they will be available in the store. At this time I'm holding off on until after the events. My last show will be December 19th at Cummins Station downtown Nashville. I did this event last year and really enjoyed it. It is a little different from most events as it is held the first three Fridays in December from 11:00-4:00 in the afternoon. Mostly the employees of the various businesses and the lunch crowd are the customers, but they are very supportive.


Hope to see you this weekend :)

Happy Birthday to me...

Yes, it's my birthday today! Actually we are pretty low key on adult birthdays around here, all relatives are out of town. But I did met my friend Jodi for a afternoon birthday tea celebration. One of the other perks of sharing a booth space is that the other person knows what you like and "gets you". So...I got all kinds of goodies from her! First all the goodies were placed in one of her famous "Trash totes" and let me tell you they hold a ton of stuff. I also received the matching pouch. Inside where two of my favorite Creative Jar pieces, personal art card and look at the all time best ever....the birdie tree! The little birdies are old French dictionary pages, I was with Jodi when she purchased the dictionary. I wish you could see the detail, it's stunning!

My husband got me the Wii Fit on my request. I have dropped a few pounds this year nothing major but at least going in the right direction. I know I need to get moving and active so we'll see. I'll have to update you later.

It's my birthday so I'm going to take it easy today and relax, because the other gift is that my wonderful husband is doing the cleaning this week end, bliss.

Tweets and peeps

See the flock of birdies? I wish I could keep them all...they do look happy in the window don't you think? I know if I left the room they would be in the floor, in Boris mouth or the cat would do a snatch and run, certain disaster for the sweet tweets.

I have ten new additions in the tweets and four new peeps. They will be at the Centennial Holiday Show next week end. I will share with you that I am a little nervous about this up coming event (more than usual). I heard it was "impossible" to get in, I sent my and Jodi's application in at the last minute and we were selected! Then I get this humongous vendor pack in the mail, I mean it was seriously six pages of very detailed information. The main thing was the "Jury Sheet", they come around and judge your booth on six categories. The categories range from craftsmanship to crowd appeal to display. Based on the resulting scores you may or may not be invited back. The main concern for me is the booth display.
With this being an inside event and no tent I have my challenges. I cannot hang my aprons on the clothesline as I normally do. It also seems like a 10x10 area shrinks inside. I know it's the same space but outside it seems larger? Does anyone have any ideas?

Jodi and I have shared booth space for most of the events this year and we are bursting at the seams. It's somewhat bitter sweet for both of us. On one hand out growing the space means we are building our inventory and have more to offer than ever. Sharing also helps with the booth fee costs, but mostly it's the companionship and time spent with a friend.
We both know next year we may not be able to share a booth. As I said bitter sweet.

Artist or Creator

Here are some of the new things I have brewing in the cottage. The owl shadowbox is not exactly new but I have upgraded to a larger size. This is an 8x10 frame and the owl is larger than the last bunch. I was a little overwhelmed at the response to the owl shadowboxes and sold all but one at their debut event. FYI I do plan to list some in the store this week. The blackbird is something I've had in my head for awhile and the bird was drawn about a year ago. As soon as I sketched him out I thought of the song "Blackbird" by Paul McCartney, I love that song.Not sure the bird is complete, I need to change the ribbon for sure and I was thinking of adding some tags to the key. You'll see soon. I thought of putting the bird onto a hand painted Nashville bag and still may do so yet.

I do need to thank my friend and booth partner Jodi Reeves for giving me the encouragement to "branch out". My stash contains paint, brushes, mod podge, wire and a whole lot more. A year ago you would find mostly fabric, thread and buttons. Which brings me back to the title "Artist or Creator"? I have never considered myself an artist, although I know art is not exclusive to a painted canvas. I have been comfortable with creator and think I will stick to that. As women we have the ability to create life! It doesn't get any better than that. I know for myself after I became a mom my creative button clicked and life has never been the same since.

So now that I am putting paint to canvas and "branching out" I think I'll stick to the creator label.

I do have to put a word in about the Webb School of Design event in Bell Buckle......
I helped Jodi the first day (I did not show) and she was interviewed by the Shelbyville paper!
Then she won a ribbon ! Her art was purchased to hang in Webb School! Jodi was the Diva of the Day! Go check her out and get the scoop here.

Sweet Peeps have landed

Here is a sneak preview of one of the new items that may be found in our booth this weekend at the Berry Hill event in Azalea Park. Last show several fell in love with the Sweet Tweets but said they had no place to hang them. So here is a free standing version that I'm calling Sweet Peeps that may be placed next to your computer, sewing machine on any tabletop surface. It's funny how they all start the same but develop a unique personality as they are created. They are a lot of fun to have around, I think Thomas (our cat) is their biggest fan right now.

So if you can stop by Azalea Park in Berry Hill this Saturday and get your very own Sweet Peep.
I've got to find good homes for these guys! The Sweet Peeps will not be posted in the shop until after the show: but if you have fallen in love with a particular Peep let me know and I'm sure we can work something out.

I'm also working on a new apron style for this week end as well. Hope to have another blog update in the next couple of days. Meanwhile hope over to my crafty creative booth partners blog and check out all the new things she has been working on.

What I did on my summer vacation

My few weeks off turned into a couple of months! I feel like I need to start the blog post with
"What I did on my summer vacation". Well I've had visits from both my girls that live in FLA. and an extended visit from Amber my beautiful grand daughter. I went to visit my other daughter in MO and see the new grand baby! That was the highlight of the summer :) The rest of the time has been spent enjoying the last lazy days of summer. It seems like several other creators I caught a bad case of the nothingness. However now I am back with all these ideas and random thoughts in my head and a need to create. I guess it may have something to do with 2 shows in September and another 2 scheduled for October????

The new bag has finally came into being so to say...let me know your thoughts. I wanted to offer another style besides the every popular Nashville bag or Tote bag. I'm pretty pleased with the result, it has been tweaked many times. Any special suggestions on sewing the bias strap? Mine is okay but far from stellar. DO you guys buy the ready made or make your own? I did my own but wonder if it's truly worth the effort unless I use "special" fabric?

The birdies are something I've had in my head for awhile another project that came into being! You may find a similar bird pattern to download here http://www.spoolsewing.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/birdpattern1-1.pdf
I used 20 gauge wire for the frame, a branch for the perch and added scrape book paper for the flowers. The orange one has fabric flowers from this site http://boutiquenutmegdesigns.blogspot.com/2008/07/fabric-flower-tutorial.html
plus a felt leaf! I'm calling them "Sweet Tweets".
I think one of the reasons I love them so (besides the fact I love everything birds) is that I now can have a bird. With the other animals (Boris, Dixie, Gracie and Sir Thomas) in the house a bird is not an option right now.

Okay you're caught up for the moment now I need to get in gear and make some more of the bags. Pictures forth coming.....

Antique and Thrift store shopping

I really am not much a mall shopper but it's hard to drive pass an Antique or Thrift store. It's like a treasure hunt and you never know what you may find, for me it's the thrill of the hunt.

It's interesting to see what people throw out or put up for sale. Sometimes I look at something and think about the story that's behind the piece. I think about who might have cherished it and how it wound up on a shelf in a store. I send out hope that it will be bought by someone else that will cherish it. If you have never seen the movie "The Red Violin" I strongly recommend it, it's the story of a violin spanning several centuries.

The above pictures are of recent finds...the silver bowl is a $6.00 thrift store find. I really should have taken a before picture, believe me it did not look anything like the picture. It was almost completely black and I couldn't see any marks but I fell in love with the shape and intricate top. Plus I didn't have a silver bowl a lot of silver trays and a couple of tea sets. After round one cleaning (not finished yet) I found a mark! After some research I found the silver bowl was manufactured in the states somewhere between 1870-1879. WOW! It's not perfect but in great shape given it's age. The cutie pie birds are a find from a local Antique Mall, my husband bought them as a present. Lucky me! They do not have any markings and I know nothing about them other than they make me smile. So I promise to take care of my treasures and cherish them.
Hmm, wonder where they will be in 100 years from now?