Order Up! Ding! Ding!

Take a close look...anything look familiar to you? I spent the better part of yesterday sewing. I wanted to try to get half way through the orders from last weeks party so I would have free time over the holiday weekend with my girls. I got 7 orders completed. Whew! And out they went in the mail today so if one of these bags is yours, it should be to your house by Tuesday according to the post office. Just a mere 9-10 more bags to go plus accessory bags...and I have another party this Sunday. My machine will be hot this week when the girls are back to school!

With our holiday time today, we went to the pool. Today was the last day it was open for the season. My neck is sunburnt and my feet hurt (I don't know why my feet hurt from being at the pool but, they do). We spent almost 6 hours there. The baby just hung out and napped or cooed at watching her big sisters jump off the diving boards. They had a blast. Needless to say, they were asleep tonight about 2 minutes after their heads hit the pillow. I'll be following soon...

My husband just said that we had so much mail in the box today it was popping out the back side. A few more yards of fabric, some oh, oh so cute, retro betty boop looking type of buttons. (I'll use one later and post a photo), and some key fobs hardware (ohh, new product - key fobs!). I also got some cool new Heather Bailey fabric the other day when I was testing out that super expensive sewing machine. I'm going to make my little one a teething bib and applique her initial on the front.

Tomorrow, I promised the girls we'd make some pajama pants with some flannel they picked out. Last night, they made some pocket tissue covers. Cute! Expect to see those as a giveaway at future parties! We'll be headed to our festival up in town this weekend and to the parade. We have such great hometown parades - I love going!

Life in the "country"

Ok...seriously, I live like 4 minutes from a Meijer store, yet we're on a rural road. I have 2 neighbors that I can see from my house. Rural because we all live on large parcels here - 1/4 of my neighbors farm. Not so rural because we are so close to town. So why, somebody, tell me why, none of us on my street can get...high speed internet!! I would blog more often if it weren't an hour long process every time I sit down and try to load a single photo on my puny dial up connection. Ohh - somebody wave the fairy wand over my street and wish upon us all high speed connectivity!!

I've vented. I'm done. For now...it'll boil back up later, I'm sure.

Last week, Jill hosted a wonderful trunk show at her home. Thanks Jill! Lots of beautiful designs were chosen and I'm excited to get all the fabric in and get started. My driveway has been a buzz yesterday and today with the first of 6 shipments of fabric. I found some super cute buttons too that I can't wait to use.

I spent the afternoon today at the store, completing a 4 hour survey on a new sewing / embroidery machine. Very cool. Of course, it cost more than my car! Whew...maybe someday. I did learn some cool stuff about my own machine that is similar - things it does that I didn't know it did. I'm excited because I found a stitch I can use for applique. I'll soon be offering kids shirts and onesies with cool little critters on them, numbers for their age for birthday shirts, and other stuff I think up. Can't wait! I'll probably add some stuff to the recycled jeans I sell too. I'll show it off later!

I thought this was quite funny. I'm passing by my bedroom window and I look out and see Rosie (refer back to an earlier post about Rosie the barn cat). Rosie likes to kill birds in our yard. I don't like Rosie to do that. The birds don't like it either. I bought Rosie a bright pink collar with a bell on it. After a month of scratching at it, she came home one day, naked. No collar. I lost count how many she has gotten out of. So I look out my window. There sits Rosie. In the bird bath. Next to the wren house. Watching for birds. The next day, a cat bird was sitting under our basketball hoop, looking like somebody had done surgery on him and forgot to close him up. Ohhh, Rosie!!! Mice Rosie...you are the mouser!!! No birds!!

New Photos in the Gallery

Any Buckeye fans out there?! A must see before they are gone in October, the Brutus on Parade exhibit at the Schottenstein Center on The Ohio State University campus. WAY too much fun to see! Lots of Brutus Buckeyes dressed in many different outfits. A must do in Columbus!

Just added some new photos to my gallery - new lighter weight teething bibs too! Check it out!

Go Bucks!

Sophie's Bag

Oh my...is summer almost over already? Man...I have been swamped with all the last minute - gotta do before school starts - stuff. We've had family in, been to see family, been to the pool a lot, and I feel like I've been holed up in my sewing room a bunch! New wristlets now available up at Harvest Moon!

Made myself a new nifty diaper bag - this one is "Sophie's bag". It's big enough to fit all 3 of my girls in! It has 6 slip pockets on the outside, 2 slip pockets on the inside, a double magnetic snap closure and then snaps on the side so that you can make it smaller or open it up bigger. I love it. I've been wanting to use the fabric with the blue and red / lotus fabric in a skirt but I didn't have enough so I used it in this bag. I love the red - matches my car seat.

I've been working on some more samples for the next trunk show I have this Saturday and I bought a dress form. More about that later - been dying to have one and found one for a great deal the other day.

Gotta run again - civic duty calls. I have a township meeting this evening - working on some new commercial development standards for zoning. I haven't been since I was put on bedrest with baby #3 so this seems like the final thing to get back to and all will be "as it was" pre-baby. Some days...I'm just dog tired. Coming to my office job actually feels like a vacation - I get to just sit and work all day. No cooking, cleaning or sewing for a day. Love those things but a change of scenery sure is nice!

My big 'ol belly

With the little bundle of joy who sat on my lap as I worked today, I think back to all the anticipation of her arrival day. Who would think that 15 weeks later, I would be longing for the days when she was kicking inside, imagining what she would be like and savoring those days of being pregnant. Especially since 15 weeks ago I can recall moaning almost non stop at the aches, pains and misery but it was all so worth it. After it's all over, I miss it.

My awesome sister in law casted my belly for me when I was 6 months pregnant. Then I took some fabric from the curtains I have in my studio and covered the casting with them. A perfect reminder and beautiful piece of art for my sewing studio. I love it, love it, love it.

Having spent a season working for the National Park Service in Montana - I totally have a huge LOVE in my heart for the agency. This summer, my sister in law is having an experience working for them as well. The photos she has sent back of her housing and the views - breathtaking. She's having a great time. She made the paper this past Sunday. Yeah Lee!

Oh...to be 7 again!

We spent the day at Easton yesterday for some much needed girl time. My girlfriend brought two of her kids and we hit every fountain they had...the kids splashed about with this crazy amazon tree frog that was huge and everywhere. We saw him at every fountain and then saw him riding on the trolley later - kind of strange but quirky fun too.

When do you lose that kid attitude of "who cares who sees me running through the fountains at the mall" kind of attitude, ya know? I mean, seriously, life is short and it should be filled with a moment every day that just makes you want to...well, scream and run through the fountain in public. Am I right? Just pure fun, pure joy. We had a really great day...I must say...I AM the coupon queen.

Went to Children's Place and got these "awww- dorable" socks and tights for the girls. Total was like twenty - some dollars. I however, with my coupon savy self, used a 15% coupon along with my $10 place perks - got the whole lot for $7.46. Ohh, nothing feels better than a good deal, eh?

Next, Build a Bear Workshop. I tell my girls, you got five bucks to spend there. That's it. Not six, not seven, not eight...five bucks. These two found the $10 teddies there and each got a new bear made for $5.34. It can be done - you can get out of Build a Bear for only five bucks. Way cool and they were in hog heaven with a not only a new bear but I think they were equally excited about saving money. I love it!

We also painted a plate for our newest pea - put her feet in some paint and printed them on the plate with her name. It will go on the wall with the other two girls plates. The savings queen -totally defeated in this place. Don't even ask what I spent for the 3 of us to paint some tiny little bowls. Shheez...I could have bought an entire dinnerware set for 12 for the price I paid. But I got my plate...and we had fun. Where else can you create something like that? Well, actually we can do it at my brothers house but that's besides the point. (my sister in law is a sculptor, so was my great aunt, and my grandparents were artists and potters) :>)

Ended the day with, of course, some black raspberry chip ice cream from Graeters. MMM! Good way to end the day. Every day should include running in fountains and eating ice cream!

New Designs for the Fall Collection!

I've been working on some new designs. These are some of my design samples - not sure if these will be the final designs yet or not...I took some samples up to the Coffeehouse, we'll see how long they last up there. Usually, if it's a hot design, I'll sell out in a week or two. If it's just ho-hum, it may sit awhile.

Chloe is a low and long bag with a flap closure. No pockets and a short strap - cute and fun. This one was made with this asian flair material - I love these prints.

Madison is this bag with a round shape, a little gather in the center, magnetic snap closure. Not sure if this is the final design. While making this one - another design just happened in the process - "Bella" - I'll be working on that one maybe later this week.

And of course, by request of my friend Joan, it's "Joan's Lunch out with the ladies" wristlet. It's got a zipper closure and a lobster claw hook so you can undo the strap and for Joan, hang it on your golf bag or wherever. Or just throw some cash and ID in it and you're set for a quick bag for going out. So far, these seem to be pretty popular.

I have another accessory piece I'm designing - a snap closure bifold wallet with slip pockets to hold cash or credit card and a key ring on the outside. This might turn out to be the "duck-bill-fold" to coordinate with the "platter-purse". Lori, one of my customers suggested that name - just trying to figure out what the the "bill-fold" will be exactly.

But right now, I'm thinking that tomorrow I have the day off. No sewing - nothing from my "office job" either. The girls and I are going to go shopping at our big outdoor air market and create some pottery at Color Your World. I'm going to put the babies feet prints on a plate. And, as a surprise to the girls, I have a special coupon for them they can use at Build A Bear Workshop to buy some accessories. They'll flip! We're going to pack a lunch and run through the fountains there too. School starts in two weeks so we're trying to jam pack some last minute fun in before the daily grind of schedules and homework and gymnastics and more begin.

Jackpot!

Ok...so my girls and I hit the jackpot this week. At least, in our world. I made some new things to take up to Harvest Moon Coffeehouse to sell and I told them we'd go shopping downtown and check out the new thrift store that just opened up. My one daughter wanted to get a pair of clip on earrings and some not clip ons - tear them apart and attach findings onto the clip ons. Seriously, she's been designing jewelery since she was 6, maybe even younger (well, she's only 7 now so I guess that was not that long ago) and she has such an eye for design. I'm always on the look out for anything vintage.

My daughter found her earrings and was thrilled. I found some vintage sheets that I'm going to cut up and make into my eco-vintage recycled market bags. I also found some othervintage material that I think I may use to make some aprons. I also found a bag of odds and ends - what caught my eye was this really cool package of needles with kitties on it. Perfect to put on the shelf in my studio. The bag was full of all kinds of stuff and I took out the needles and gave the rest to my girls.

Instantly, with all that "stuff", they made a "table" for some dolls, used a bunch of glitter to make these face things with eyes, and with these tiny little doll shoes - they filled them with the little fake flowers. Really cool little designs! I love the shoe full of flowers...it's sitting up on my window sill in the kitchen.

I also found a mason jar full of BUTTONS! Ohhh...how I love love LOVE buttons. I use them on my purses with the button and loop closures and I love it when I can find some old vintage ones to use. This jar was full of all kinds of great finds and you all will soon see them on my new bags and the little girl dresses I make. Too much fun! 1/3 of the jar was usable. The rest, just pretty to fill the jar up OR I'll use them to make some magnets or napkin rings. For Christmas one year, I made my Mom these awesome napkin rings that were elastic rings LOADED with little vintage buttons.

SO, think of me if you're going thrifting or to the flea market. The girls and I LOVE to go - call us!

“It’s the most…wonderful time…of the year!” Do you know this commercial? I think it’s Staples or something and it shows the parents going up and down the aisles gathering school supplies and sending their kids back to school. I’ve been singing this to myself today thinking just that…they will be back in school in just 3 ½ weeks. This is the time of the summer in which they have hit the wall of boredom with all their free time and they are BEGGING for structure again and schedules. Me too and so I’m singing Christmas carols in my head.

So this photo, my kitchen counter, well, it’s a snapshot into my day. A little hodge podge of everything. Let’s see, there’s the yummy smelling bottle of baby wash in cucumber melon scent. Why? Because the babys bottom seems to explode daily and she takes a bath in the sink – well, in her infant tub in the sink. A little garlic, onion and some butter to sauté them. Why? Because I have a pot of marzetti on the stove. The little green measuring cup from the laundry soap box…Why? Again, did I mention the baby explodes quite often? This is for my “poop bucket” where I soak her clothes in Tide before throwing them in the wash. Works well. Then there’s the Nestea – Why? If you know me, you know I love my sweet tea. My girls and I drink probably two pitchers of tea a day. Mmm…good, good stuff.

Then, there’s one of my girls, digging in the pasta box to eat raw pasta before I cook it. Why? I think she just likes the way it crunches. Pay no attention to the fact she’s in her undies and wearing an apron. She and her sister had been cleaning dishes and didn’t want to get their clothes wet. I gave them a tip on how to get rid of the fat from the hamburger I browned – courtesy of my smart husband (a bowl, full of ice cubes, foil on top of them formed in a bowl shape, pour in grease and the ice will solidify it, wrap up in the foil and toss). They help me in the kitchen now and then and I try to share with them secrets of the kitchen so they can cook someday – I’ve learned how, no thanks to my Mom who may have shared kitchen wisdom with me it just wasn’t always the full picture. She’d give me a recipe but then tell me after I made, “oh yeah, I always add in this”. But Mom, that wasn’t in the recipe…”oh, it wasn’t? Didn’t I tell you that part? Well, hello! No wonder nothing I make tastes like hers!

To wrap it up, I have a quick challenge for you. I made a quick placemat purse today. Super easy and super fast to make – great to carry around a book in or for a quick purse or maybe even your knitting or makes a nice “homemade gift”. Anyway, find a placemat you love. This one is from Vera Bradley. Fold in half, sew. You can do this on the machine or by hand. ..a running stitch or a blanket stitch would look good. Then attach prefab handles with some coordinating ribbon. Cut 4 pieces of ribbon 4” in length. Run them through the loops of the handles and then stitch with a heavy stitch the ribbon to the bag. Viola! Instant new bag! Send me your photos when you make one!

http://twopeasinapoddesigns.site.shutterfly.com

It was very close to Christmas, the Christmas after her husband died. We stopped by over at their farm across the street for a “brief” visit but it turned into an hour or so. We started to talk about sewing and she was showing me some of her projects she had made around the house, in the basement, upstairs and in particular, this really cool purse she made from a placemat. She encouraged me in my sewing. I even called her two weeks ago with a “sewing emergency” to ask her a question.

She was the “domestic diva” I long to be. Her and our friend Irene – I swear someday I’ll be that good. She was a great sewer, cook, mother and more. Every time we walked in the door from the garage, KJ the dog was there to greet us along with this aroma of something delicious on the stove. I remember in particular coming in one day to smell these cabbage rolls. Oh, sweet yummy cabbage rolls. She said to me, “Oh honey, these are so easy!” to which I replied, “yeah right…for you maybe!”. She gave me the quick lesson in how she made them and I’ve tried half a dozen times to replicate her masterpiece and only the last time did I feel like I achieved success. Not as good as hers but my own kind of good.

She was super friendly and would grab my girls into her arms for a huge hug and then hold their faces in her hands and give them a huge kiss every time she saw them. She’d tell us she loved us and made us feel like we were family. I hope that my house feels that warm to people when they come over to visit. My life goal when I was little always included my career aspirations of being a park ranger but now having done all that for 12 years – my true life calling and what really brings me happiness is domesticity. Silly isn’t it? You think modern little girls want all the glitz, glamour, and big career – and all I dream about is cool things to make with my kids, foods that taste so good they’ll tell their kids about it long after I’m gone, and a house that is welcoming to all our friends and family…to be a good artist, in sewing, in crafting, in painting, in creating an atmosphere that is colorful and creative and warm in our house. Of course, I did always dream of living on a farm and all the dust and love and good food and home crafts that comes with it. In many ways, I do feel like I’m living my dream.

I knew Carol had been sick but I didn’t know she had cancer. She didn’t want anyone to know. So it was a surprise to find out she passed away on Monday. I was glad I had called her recently because at least I got to tell her we were thinking of her, praying for her. I offered to take her some food and bring the baby for a visit but she said she just wasn’t up for visitors and her kids were staying with her and taking care of her. She said, “Thank ya honey – I love ya for thinking of me”. I know she meant it. Last night, I made this skirt – in all these patches in memory of Carol. She was a quilter and I thought I would wear this to the funeral to honor her but it seemed a little too wild for such an occasion. I told her daughter about it and she smiled. I know Carol is giggling about it too – I think she would have approved.