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  So long that all of my fabrics are pretty outdated.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!

5 more feet... taking back my studio!

OK, it's the little things that we should celebrate & appreciate.  So I am celebrating organizing and cleaning my sewing area.  It seems like everytime my friend comes over I get motivated to do a bit more, Thanks Jen! (aka www.jennadesigns.etsy.com)

AND I actually used my clean space to make something!!!

Now for the rest of the room...

Wish me luck!

Does anyone have any suggestions for smallish storage for yarn messes?

Another great weekend...

 

I actually got something accomplished!

Yesterday my friend Jen (aka jennadesigns) came over so the kids could play and I could have someone to talk to :)  I always have a tough time picking out papers, especially because I've looked at these for a while & they've gotten "old".  Jen put together some cover/ end paper combos for me and voila!  I glued 4 covers & bound 3 of them today!  Jen... THANK YOU!  I even took picks & listed them, yay me!

Shop link... NightOwlCraftworks

My Hubby's Buttons & Tons of Etsy Glitter!

These buttons are GREAT!  A few weeks ago the kids helped Mike pound these out & they came out so well!  I love the fish.  He looks kinda like a phirana.  They are terra cotta.  He is thinking he wants to leave them plain.  He is considering adding some stain.  I am now convinced my husband can do ANYTHING!  Now, how to get him to do what I want him to do... hmm.

 

His job is done, my job starts.  Product tester!  I am probably the best person for this job.  I know if I break it I can get him to make me a new one ;)  So, in order to do some testing I threw together this cuff.  It is bulky and not really pretty, but I can wash it and wear it!  I'm hoping this will get him off his buns and get him to start his own Etsy shop. 

My friend at JennaDesigns tweeted me about the front page!  Apparently I made the front page of Etsy today.  I missed it, but she e-mailed me some screenshots.  She is the best! 

If that wasn't enough... I was featured in one of my favorite blogs... Kate & Oli!  She is such a sweet person, and I think my confidence was boosted 500% after the kind words and great feature.  I was a bit nervous about it... but I couldn't be more happy & proud!  Thank you, Katie!

What Etsy has given me...

I am always amazed how the little things in life surprise you!  I love Etsy.  There are many reasons.  I love that I have a craft I love doing, and I can share it with other people.  I love that Etsy is a wonderful community and so supportive.  I love that all I have to do is ask a question, no matter how silly, and it always gets answered.  I love Etsy because it has given me confidence in my craft to be very proud of what I do.

Most of all...  I love Etsy...  because of the relationships!

This weekend my friend, JennaDesigns, took time out of her SUPER BUSY schedule to come and visit.  She brought pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust... which I would have never attempted to make!  I got to meet her son, Isaac.  He is an absoloute angel!  And, of course her gorgeous baby Hannah.  I think my Ashley would've held her all night if the other kids didn't want to play.  It was a great evening.  I am so far away from family and friends, 14 hours, that I have become somewhat of a recluse.  It was nice to just get a chance to be around another etsy mom.  Thank you Jen, for the amazing cheesecake (I want the recipe so I can attempt it, no promises)!  I appreciate you and your family so much!

Patchwork Linen Zipper Pouch No. 3

What a great day...

I am having such a good day!

This morning I woke up and am featured in this blog... http://the3maries.blogspot.com/2009/09/night-owl-craftworks.html. Then I got a convo on Etsy letting me know that I will be featured on Friday in another blog! How cool!

Then I had a wonderful seller, JennaDesigns, come to my house for lunch. Our babies got the chance to play a bit, and we got a chance to chat a bit!

After my company left, my little one went down for a nap and I have a chance to get some computer work done with some real focus! Yay me! If I'm really quiet I might even be able to clean this afternoon... or maybe I'll just go get a piece of cake :)