Our most recent throwing demo...

We got the sound bugs worked out.  Now I just have to figure out how to get Mike to shave these down to about 30 minutes.  Once he gets started...

Need to know...

I have my big projects behind me and I haven't made any journals in a while.  I'm wondering if I should consolidate my line to one or two types of journals.  I currently sell small & large journals.  I also make sketchbooks that have a pencil tie.  

So, my wonderful loyal readers... I'm pondering and wondering what you think.  What journals would you rather tote around?  Or are you more of a sketchbook sort of person?

Which do you prefer?
	small journals
	large journals
	sketchbooks
	bar napkins ;)
pollcode.com free polls

Saving the earth one treadle at a time...

Check it out, check it out!  

 When we moved into our home the old owners left a treadle machine.  They graciously said I could have it.  This means a great deal to me, because I learned to sew on a treadle machine.  It was always better to me than my mother's Brother that she bought thinking an upgrade would work better.

Over the weekend my husband and I spent a little time cleaning up the cabinet portion of the treadle.  This morning I took the machine down to The Sewing Machine Shop in town.  I had no clue what to expect.  The owner was so nice to me, he showed me how to take it all apart and what to use to get it cleaned up.  I brought Rose (I'm not sure I've settled on that name yet, we'll see if she likes it) home and took her apart and spend most of my day soaking parts, scrubbing and cleaning, and reassembling all the springs and do-dads.  In the next day or two I'm going back to the repair shop to get all of my replacement parts.  

When we get it all put back together & running that's when the fun begins.  I can put it anywhere, because guess what?  I don't need electricity.  So I'm saving on electricity & our bill.  WIN WIN!  We already moved the base to my studio, with all my other treasures & wonders.  I'm getting really excited and on the hunt for cutesie dress patterns for my girls.  I can't wait to put Rosie to good use.  She will be loved.

More pics to come!!!

Loving my new purse...

It's been a long time since I dusted of my sewing machine and finished a project.  Maybe even, dare I say, years?!  I have a pile of projects half finished.  They've been put to the back burner for so long that dresses I was making for my 7 year old are fitting the 18 month old.  

        

One of my biggest pet peeves is shopping for that perfect purse.  You know the one.  It has to be the right size.  It has to have the right strap.  It has to have pockets on the inside, or not.  And if that's not enough, it has to be pretty.  For me it has to be really pretty.  When I get a purse I carry it for a long time, it becomes like a security blankie.  

My friend, JennaDesigns (aka JennasAttic), gives me lots of inspiration.  She's the type of person that makes no excuses for anything and just goes for it.  She never thinks she can't do something or that it's too difficult.  Her "can do" attitude is absolutely infectious.  

I've had this Buttercup Bag pattern for a very long time.  So long that all of my fabrics are pretty outdated.  Nothing fun in my fabric stash... Jenna is a whole different story.  She has the most beautiful fabrics, bins and bins and bins and bins.  I asked her to help me find something in my stash to use, but we soon realized that it was a lost cause.  She most generously offered up pieces from her stash, so I got to go "shopping" at her place.  She helped me pick out this wonderful Tina Givens fabric for the outside, and some Kona fabric for the liner.  By some miracle I whipped it up in a night!  My girls want me to make them one each.  And the baby can't be left out.  Guess that sewing machine is getting a workout this weekend!

Flash mob madness...

I've been totally obsessed with flash mobs lately (ty Glee).  A-MAZ-ING!