KC Creations

New events and updates

2013-03-08T08:39:00.001-06:00

I know I promised to write more faithfully and regularly last November and I didn't. Guess I just got so busy with sewing/embroidering/ and craft shows as well as gift showing that I overlooked my posting.

Some new events that have occured since last November is I now have a new website. Actually it is not so new as it is updated and has had some new features added. As soon as I get some ready and put on the website, customers will not only be able to see some samples of my work but will actually be able to buy products and gifts. This website designer is more geared to the sewing industry so it is more "sewer" friendly. I am really excited about the possiblilities with all that I can do that will add benefits not only for me but for new customers.

One frustrating event was my computer kept having issues. I contacted support several times. I had to take it back to factory settings twice. That did not resolve the problem and wound up sending it back to be worked on. I think they replaced the hard drive and completely overhauled it. It is working great now, for which I am extremely thankful.

Another exciting developement is that I also started using a new book keeping system that should also help me be able to provide a more professional image to my business.

I also had the opportunity to update one of my embroidery/sewing machines and have been busy working to get to know it better. I have nicknamed it Queen-Quite-A-Lot. It does a great job on embroidery but also is a great sewing machine. It is much more picky than the mechanical machines and the older electronic machines but it is a joy to use and I am so thankful for the opportunity to have it.

The latest developement in my business is that my husband is joining me in business. He went with me to the DAX (Decorative Apparell Expo) in Kansas City, Mo. He has developed an interest in doing heat transfers for t-shirts as well as promotional items. We have ordered a heat press and it is on its way and should arrive next week. We have also purchased a vinyl cutter that also can be used for garments as well as for signs and other decorative items and promotional items. We are both really excited about these additions to my business and to be add additional services to our customers.

I have to say it has been very hectic since the last time I wrote. Even after the first of the year, when it is normally pretty quiet, it seems we have been constantly on the run. I am very thankful that my business has been steadily growing and I have been very busy. I am looking forward to getting some time to make up some new items that I recently acquired patterns for as well as some of my best selling items.

Hopefully it will not be near as long before I can get back to posting on a regular basis

2011-11-25T07:59:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving day and if you are a black Friday shopper are home recuperating soon.

I just wanted to remind everyone about the drawing on Tuesday for the snap top purse. Be sure and tell anyone that is on your "friend" list to go and "like" my page on Facebook. (Kathy's Custom Creations) and you will be entered for the drawing. While you are there you can see some of the designs and projects I have done in the past.

Hope everyone has a great day. Got to get back to the Embroidery machine.

2011-11-21T05:43:00.001-06:00

It is almost time for the drawing for the snap top purse. I can hardly wait to see who wins it. I hope whoever it is enjoys it.

I had a good time Saturday at the craft show talking and visiting with all the people that came through as well as the other vendors. I didn't sell as much as I would have liked but had some good prospects for future sales. I was totally exhausted when I got home but really happy with the feedback I got from some of the new items I had, the necktie cell phone holders and the little gift bags.

I will be sewing like crazy the next two days trying to catch up and then Wednesday after I get home from work I will be preparing turkeys, pies, and other dishes for the community Thanksgiving dinner that my husband and I are serving at our church in Edna.

I am also planning for the near future to create some kindle covers and holders. I hope to have them ready for the next craft show, December 10. I am also going to finish up some of the little gift bags that I have cut out.

I hope that those who have already "liked" my page on Facebook will spread the word to their friends about the drawing for the snaptop purse that they could win. I also hope that you will come and visit me at my booth at the craft show in Edna, December 10. Hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Day.

If you are in the area and have no where to go for Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving day I hope that you will come and join us at First Baptist Church in Edna, Kansas at 1:00 for a great dinner and fellowship.

2011-11-17T06:27:00.001-06:00

After work today I am planning on hitting the sewing shop with full speed to finish up some last minute things to take to the craft show in Coffeyville, Ks Saturday. I hope that anyone in the area will stop by and visit with me and check out the new Christmas items I have as well as some of the same kind of items I had last year. Looking forward to meeting lots of new people. This craft show is sponsored by a sorority so I am hoping for a good turnout the weather looks like it will be good.

If the stores are any indication everyone is (or should be) in full shopping swing for Christmas. Some stores had their Christmas item up and Christmas music playing at the end of October. Most of my new items are going to be $5 or under. I am working on creating some very affordable but practical and creative things for as small a price as possible. There are so many things that I would like to have made but time and circumstances limited me. I really like to create affordable as well as practical and well made items that don't make a big dent in the wallet. For my own Christmas giving I try to give non-electronic, non-battery operated gifts to my grandchildren. I also like to give practical things that they can either wear or use. Most of the items I make for craft shows are the kind of things that I would give my own kids or grandkids and any other loved ones that I exchange gifts with. Although that list has shrunk considerably since my siblings have chosen to stop exchanging gifts due to their expanding families.

Some other events coming up are the Community Thanksgiving dinner held at the First Baptist Church in Edna that my husband pastors. We will be hosting this dinner. The turkey, wild rice dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatoes will be provided. Anyone is welcome to come and bring their family to join with us.

Also the drawing for the snap top purse will be taking place on November 30. To enter all you need to do is to go to my fan page, Kathy's Custom Creations on Facebook and "like" it and you will be entered to win it. Pictures of the purse can be seen on the same page as well as some of the other items I have made and some of the embroidery designs that I have digitized.

Hope to meet new friends at the craft show, Saturday as well as some old ones. Hope everyone has a great day.

2011-11-15T06:46:00.001-06:00

I was busy all weekend, or at least Friday and Saturday sewing. I worked on some necktie purses, and then I started working on some really cute little gift bags or they could be a child's purse or bag to hold something special. I was able to get several cut out and parts of them sewn and hope to get some finished this evening so that I can post pictures of them here. Some are snowmen faces and some gingerbread faces. I think they are really cute. They have a drawstring top and are about 6" tall by about 4" wide and should be able to hold a small gift or stocking stuffer or even be able to use them to hang a gift on a tree.

Before I start on them though, I have some customers who have work that I will do first. I am sure they would be happy for me to do that. This is such a busy time of year and I plan to put in some long hours doing things for my customers as well as my own gift making for my family.

I hope everyone is "liking" my Facebook page Kathy's Custom Creations so they will be entered for the drawing on November 30 for the snap top purse that I am giving away. Be sure and also tell SE Kansas Garage Sales how much you "like" them also.

I hope everyone has a wonderful day.

2011-11-11T06:19:00.001-06:00

Getting ready for a fun-filled day of sewing new items for the upcoming craft shows as well as some projects for customers. I am hoping to have a very productive day. When I get some of my new projects done I will be posting pictures hopefully either tonight or tomorrow. I can hardly wait to get started on these new projects. I think they are useful and practical as well as cute and fun. Some are things that will be great for the holiday season and some for gifts and useful the whole year. I will keep you posted. Thanks to all who are following me. Be sure to go to my facebook page Kathy Embroidery or Kathy's Custom Creations to "like" my page to enter the drawing for the snap top purse. Be sure to also check out the SE Kansas Garage Sale page to check out the ads running there.

2011-11-08T06:10:00.001-06:00

I am working on some more necktie purses for the upcoming craft show in Coffeyville, Kansas. I am also making some new items which include potholders, christmas bags, and christmas stockings. Of course I will also have the popular memo books as well as some of my great purses.

Also don't forget the contest I am having for the snap top purse to give away on November 30. All you need to do is to go to my Facebook page, Kathy's Custom Creations, and "like" it and you are entered. These purses are really roomy, one of a kind. they have 4 large pockets on the inside as well as pockets to hold 4 pens. There is a pocket on the outside that is perfect for holding a cell phone as well as car keys and other small items you need to get to in a hurry. Each purse is unique and although they may look similar no two are exactly alike. They can be personalized with embroidery that shows your hobby or your support for your local school team. Hope you all will stop by and take a look at them if you are going to be in the Coffeyville area on November 19.

2011-11-06T15:26:00.002-06:00

Today I announced on Facebook the contest that I am having. Anyone who goes to my Facebook page and "likes" it is entered. The prize is a snaptop purse that I have made. The drawing will be November 30, 2011. this contest is in conjunction with the ad campaign that is being held by my friends at SE Kansas Garage Sales on Facebook. I hope to have several more enter. There has already been a huge amount of "likes" already.

This weekend I spent a lot of time working on some new items for the upcoming holiday season for gifts for my family as well as for sale at the craft shows. One item is some small purses made from neckties that are just big enough to hold a cell phone and some debit cards or business cards as well as room to stick your keys in. The purse is about 4" x 6" and has a magnetic snap closure. It also has a small handle, but I am considering making a strap big enough to go across the body and I am also considering possibly putting some belt loops on them.

I also started making some potholders but not too sure about them yet. I will have to consider if I want to make more of them or not. I also made a snowman gift bag that is pretty cute and I think that they will be something that will be nice to hold a small gift as well as being a gift in themselves.

I will post pictures as soon as I get a few of the above items made and as soon as I decide whether or not to just give the potholders as gifts or try and sell them at craft shows.

Of course later this month my husband and I are hosting the second annual community Thanksgiving dinner at the church. Last year we had a pretty good turnout considering it was the first year. We are hoping to have more this year. I will be cooking the turkeys, wild rice dressing, and mashed potatoes. Anyone is welcome to come and bring a covered dish or desert and their family or just themselves if they wish.

Hope everyone has a good week.

2011-11-03T06:35:00.001-05:00

I have been very busy lately making some very cute and practical little purses made from neckties. They have a pocket big enough for a cell phone and another one big enough for debit cards or business card. They are fastened with magnetic snaps or buttons. I have a handle on them also for easy carrying. They are each unique and no two are exactly alike. Everyone I have showed them to have thought they were really great. I am in the process of making several for the upcoming craft shows. They will make great Christmas gifts or stocking stuffers. I am also in the process of making some really great pot holders that will also make a great gift.

The other thing I have been working on is a dress that is a replica of a 1920's dress. It is not that complicated of a design but the instructions are also a replica of the original pattern and they do leave a lot to be desired. I think it is a great design though. The dress is being made out of a thin black knit fabric and then there is a tunic that goes over that. The tunic is from a georgette type fabric and is basically a jumper with sleeves. When I get it done I will have the lady I am making for pose and will take her picture and have it posted here as well as on my facebook page under Kathy Embroidery and my fan page Kathy's Custom Creations.

I have more patterns and ideas than I have time to make them all. I really strive to make practical and unique gifts that are reasonably priced.

Craft Show Season has arrived

2011-10-28T06:00:00.000-05:00

I am gearing up for the Fall/Winter craft show season. I have several ongoing items that have been very popular in the past and am excited about some new ones that I am going to start on soon. I have a few craft shows already scheduled.

One craft show in in Coffeyville at the Youth Center. This is the first year for me to do this craft show. It has been going on for 39 years. That anniversary is easy to remember because it is also the same as my wedding anniversary.

The only other craft show I have scheduled so far for this year is the annual craft show in Edna, Kansas where I live. Last year I sold several purses and did very well, at least for me, I hope to do well again this year.

Craft shows are a lot of work but I really enjoy them and enjoy meeting and talking to people. I also am thankful for the opportunity to share how I can help them with gifts, alterations, and of course embroidery on gift items or logos for their business.

I am really looking forward to these new gift items that I hope to start working on soon. I have been busy catching up on some long delayed projects that I am hoping to wrap up soon. Of course I will also start on gifts for my own family and friends for Christmas and birthdays or whatever occasions come up.

I have both of my embroidery machines serviced and working at top speed and in top running order to get ready for the craft shows and holiday sewing. Hope to meet several new people and help meet their gift and sewing needs.

I have recently had a problem with my facebook account that was under my name (Kathy Evans) . Now if you are looking for me on Facebook you can find me under Kathy Embroidery. For some reason (probably my own doing) I cannot log in to the account that was under my name any longer. I am still on facebook under that name but I cannot receive messages or use it for any thing. So if any of you are interested in looking me up on Facebook be sure to look me up under the name Kathy Embroidery. I also have a fan page under my business name Kathy's Custom Creations. On both of these pages you can find pictures of digitized designs that I have done for local businesses, churches and other groups.

I also have arranged to run a few ads on Facebook starting in November and as part of this campaign may be also having a contest for a gift. More details on that will be available later as they become available.

I am very excited about the all the opportunities to meet peoples sewing and gift-giving needs, as well as those that like unique one of a kind items that will fit their needs as well.

I hope you will take the time to look at the pictures on my blog as well as check out my Facebook page and my fan page. For you in the area I hope that you will come by and meet me at one of my craft shows that I have scheduled. I will have my small embroidery machine there sewing away on some design but I will be glad to meet you and talk to you about whatever project that you might be interested in.

Delays

2011-09-25T07:15:00.000-05:00

I am really sorry that I have fallen seriously behind in updating my blog for those few of you who actually read it. It has been a real whirlwind of a month. I have been very busy (which is a good thing).

As some of you know I care for a couple in their home 5 days a week in the mornings. They are really great and I enjoy it but caring for them as well as keeping up with all my other obligations has just about run me ragged.

September started off with Labor day and my son, brother-in-law and husband putting in the new window in my trailer. Since then my brother-in-law has completed the finishing work inside and has also done the rest of the finishing work on the outside. He painted the red piece of metal that they used to patch the holes and he also replaced the flashing on the roof so it will not leak anymore. It looks great now and I have already started plans to have him or my husband or somebody put a porch over my steps so that whoever is coming and going from my shop has a little protection from the elements as there is absolutely no shelter there now at all. I can't say enough times how wonderful it is to have that window there I am so thankful for it.

I am also now in the process of moving things around yet again on the inside of the trailer. Currently I have the hoops for my commercial embroidery machine on a wall down where the embroidery machine used to be. I am thinking of moving them up closer to where my machine is now. I am pretty sure that i like my commercial machine where it is the best so that means if I move my hoops I have to take out the huge hooks that they are currently hanging on and screw them in the wall closer to where my machine is so I don't have to go so far to get to them.

Also in September I took my small embroidery machine to a shop to be serviced/fixed as the tension was terrible on it. He did clean it and it was better but still not very satisfactory. So last week I made a trip to Springfield Mo to see if I could find someone who could do a better job in servicing and maintaining my very special friend. They did a great job and it is running better than it has for years. They asked me if I knew how many stitches I had sewn on it and I said no. They told me it had over 16 million stitches on it. They said that was more than any machine of that model that they had seen in their shop. I guess it should now be good for 16 million more.

Also this month we lost a dear lady at our church and had a service for her. She will be missed by all who knew her. She was a very godly lady I hope and pray that when my time comes to go to be with the Lord that they will remember most of all as being a godly woman first and foremost.

I have also been on a special diet and lost over 40 lbs. I have been busy altering my own clothes to fit me again. I have even almost finished a jacket that I started some time ago but didn't finish because i was discouraged about my size. I am looking forward to getting it done and the dress that I have planned to make to wear with it. Everyone has been so kind and told me how great I look now, so I must have looked very bad before. Actually I hated having my picture taken so tried to avoid it if possible, but I have a picture that was taken when I started the shop here and I was looking at it the other day and I do have to admit I look a whole lot better now. I would like to lose 20-40 more lbs so if I don't get too big headed I think I will try to do that. I should be able to lose all the weight that I would like to lose by the first of the year.

I know this does not cover anywhere near all the stuff I have done or the work that I have done this month but it is all that comes to mind and is the biggest events that come to mind now. As I reflect on all that has happened this month I will continue to update everyone on projects and events as they come to mind.

Hope everyone has a great day.

Cooler Weather

2011-09-06T06:32:00.000-05:00

It was an absolutely beautiful weekend. It is almost downright chilly outside this morning. I am not complaining though it was great. I worked on a special quilted jacket for myself this weekend.

The biggest thing though is that my husband, son and brother-in-law got my window put in and it is so wonderful to have a window that I can open and it lets so much light in my work area. Today my husband is going to get the materials that he needs to do the inside finishing work inside. I had the window open the whole time I was working it was great.

We went Monday to have a picnic lunch with a family in our church and it was cool enough I wore a jacket and was very thankful for it. Some of the ladies came in sleeveless tops and shorts and were very regretful that they had not wore something that had more warmth to it.

This is a picture of the new window in the end of my trailer. I plan to hopefully either later this fall or early spring to power wash the outside and then paint the whole trailer. The red is a little off centered but that is ok. Once I repaint the trailer you won't even know it is there. It is a huge blessing to have that window. I am so thankful for all the guys working so hard on it for me.

I have a busy day today and have to get back into my regular routine. But it was a wonderful holiday and I hope everyone had a great one also.

Updates

2011-09-04T16:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to my husband, middle son and brother-in-law I now have a new window in the work area of my shop. They all worked very hard on taking out the window from one end of my shop (formerly a construction trailer)which I used as a storage area and moved it to the other end which is my work area. Not only did I get more light and the ability to have fresh air without having to leave the door open and getting lots of bugs as well as dirt and/or rain in but I can now see the driveway so I know that someone is coming. They also covered up the spot the window had been and soon will finish the inside so that my storage area where I keep my fabric. this will be a much better because it was on the south end which got a lot of sun and I had to keep the window covered because of the sun damaging my fabrics not to mention the heat and cold that usually comes from the south. It is probably not the most beautiful craftsmanship that has ever been done but for function and practicality it is the best.

Where they put the window, previously had a hideous non-working furnace that my youngest son and my husband as well as a friend helped remove a few weeks previously. So because the tin did not cover the entire area where the furnace was and they needed a something to put in the place where they took out the window, I have two pieces of red tin covering those areas. I am hoping maybe next spring or maybe even this fall borrowing a power sprayer and possibly spray painting the entire trailer to make it look better. But as far as function it is great. It isn't fancy but it works. See the picture attached to see how wonderful this window is.

I cannot even begin to express how much I love my new window and how grateful I am for how hard everyone worked to make it happen. I also appreciated my daughter-in-law that helped me supervise the project while the men worked. We sat in camp chairs and gave encouragement, brought water and lunch, fetch and carried and generally supervised.

Also this week I had another tremendous blessing. Well actually two blessings. The first involved one of my sewing machines. I was having tension issues with my Bernina doing embroidery. I used to go to Wichita, Ks to get it serviced. However when it started having issues this time and I knew it was time to be serviced, I really was hoping to find somewhere a little closer that was qualified to service my machine. So I remembered that when I had been in a quilt store about an hour away that they had a Bernina sign in there and stated that they repaired and serviced Bernina sewing machines. So I called them up and arranged to take it to them last Thursday. The tech told me he could do it all in one day and I thought that was great so I took a friend and my machine and Thursday morning we set out to drop off my machine to be serviced and then go to the mall and do some other shopping. I got to the store and when I opened the back of my car to take out my machine, I saw that I had forgot the embroidery unit that goes in a separate bag. I was just sick about it. I went ahead and went inside with my machine and the tech said that it was ok since the problem seemed to be with the tension that he didn't need the embroidery unit anyway. It made me feel much better. So my friend and I left my machine in his capable hands and went shopping.

The first stop was the mall. When we arrived, I dropped my friend off at the door and went and parked. When I got ready to go inside I debated whether or not to take my purse(one I had made, see Facebook page) in with me. Most of the time if I have pockets I just take my phone and my wallet in and don't take my whole purse in. I started to leave it in there and at the last minute decided to take it in with me because we would probably be there awhile. So my friend and I ate lunch and did a little shopping. We checked out the Joann;s store that now was in the mall due to the tornado blowing away their store. We checked out some other stores and then my friend saw a store that carried some (what I consider) high-end designer purses. My friend looked at some and while she was visiting with the sales lady I just looked at some of the purses. I joined them and in the course of the conversation I told her I made my own purses. I showed her mine and told her about how it snapped closed and some other things about it. I told her I had done the embroidery and she seemed very impressed. She asked me if I sold them and I said yes I did. Then to my surprise, joy, and amazement she asked if she could buy some to sell in her store. WOW!!!!!. I have to say I was overcome with surprise. I said YES. I told her I made them all just a little different, no two exactly alike. I had done them for some of the area schools here and if she would let me know what colors and logos or designs she wanted on them I would make whatever she requested. I said I couldn't do colleges because of licensing issues but high school and grade schools I could do as well as names, hobbies, collection type designs I could do. I told her I also made purses that had pockets for electronic readers or Ipad devices, as well as other coordinating and matching accessories such as checkbook covers, calendar covers, memo book covers and other items. By the time we finished talking we were both really excited about the possibilities.

I am so grateful to the Lord for impressing on me that I needed to take my purse in with me. If I had not done that then none of that conversation would have taken place at all. It was a tremendous blessing to say the least. Then I got to finish off the week with my new window and of course Monday is Labor day and I don't have to go anywhere and I can stay and enjoy my new window while I am working in my shop.

I am very thankful for everyone who made all this possible but especially for how the Lord blessed me this week. I hope everyone has a great holiday.

Birthday Wishes

2011-08-26T06:29:00.000-05:00

I was very thankful and gratified to receive all the wonderful birthday greetings on my birthday yesterday. I received so many that my phone was going crazy all day. The lady I care for in the mornings couldn't believe that my normally mostly silent phone kept ringing or beeping all day. I did have a very nice day. I went and did the normal care for the couple I help in the mornings and then came home and ate lunch. After lunch I went out and finished a few alterations on some cheerleading outfits and then had some more alterations dropped off and the girl came and picked up her cheerleading outfit. When my husband got home from work we went to Parsons and met my youngest son and had a nice supper together as well as a short shopping expedition to Wal-Mart to spend the birthday money I had received. I heard from my middle son and his family as well as a granddaughter and had a nice long visit with my mother. All in all it was a nice day.

Today I go to care for my couple and then have to run into town for some errands and then back home to do more alterations and other sewing projects.

I need to start preparing for a craft show that I have coming up in less than a month. Hope everyone has a great day.

Renovations

2011-08-22T06:36:00.000-05:00

Had a busy but good week last week. I got some things done that had been stacked up. I also was so happy to get some of the work done on my shop that I was wanting done for the last 4 years. My son and husband as well as a friend with his tractor came and took off the old heating/air unit that was ugly and was on the end of the shop that faces the driveway. In a couple of weeks I am looking forward to having a window put in so I can see the driveway and that will give me more light in my work area of my shop. I think that is going to be so great and can hardly wait. I really appreciated my son, husband and the man with the tractor that came and all the work they went to. Without them this would not have been possible. It looks so much better without that ugly old heater there. My husband patched the holes that were left when they removed the heater with a piece of left over red metal.(The rest of the shop is tan with green trim) It really doesn't look bad even with that. In fact the metal is big enough and centered in the end so it really almost looks like it is supposed to be there.

I have another busy week this week and hope to get several things done. I have some alterations on a wedding dress as well as the mother of the brides dress. I have some embroidery projects that need to get done. I am sure I will have more things but those are the major things I hope to get accomplished this week.I would like to get some craft show items made for the craft show coming up in a few weeks.

I am also in search of a good sturdy sewing machine cabinet for the new old industrial sewing machine I just purchased from ebay last week. Maybe I will check out Craigslist for one.

Hope everyone has a really great day.

Additions

2011-08-13T11:39:00.000-05:00

This week was very interesting. I finally made a decision regarding my phone. I did a lot of research and gathered all kinds of opinions and made the decision. I wound up going into town earlier than I expected. While I was there I decided to go ahead and check out the phone that I had decided on. I was fortunate enough to get there at a time when they were not very busy and got waited on immediately. The man that waited on me was very knowledgeable and helped me with the final decision making process and then handed me off to someone to finalize the arrangements. So far I have been very happy with my new phone and although I still have a lot to learn i have figured out quite a bit about the basic operations.

I also won a bid on ebay for a industrial sewing machine. It is a very old model but should work very well for hemming jeans, and heavier items. It should arrive sometime this week. If it lives up to my expectations it should handle some of my heavier projects and give my other machine a break from some of the heavier things that it has a hard time sewing.

Today after going to a class to help with some questions and instruction on my new phone, we made a quick stop at the fair but nothing really to see there and so we did not stay long. We were not interested in the carnival things and everything was pretty much closed down anyway. We stopped at Wal-mart to pick up a few things and got home in time to eat lunch.

Now I plan to go over and start on some embroidery that needs to be done and a few small sewing projects also. I need to sew-out some samples and also possibly get started on some things for craft shows.

We had a great rain and it is so much cooler. I might even manage to go out and pull up some weeds out of the flower bed and do a little yard work.

Hope everyone will make it to church tomorrow and have a great day.

Dilemma

2011-08-10T06:54:00.000-05:00

Today as I get ready to start my day of sewing, I am struggling with the all important decision on if I should get a new phone and if I do what phone I should get. I emphasize the want. I realize it is not a real Need just a want. I have a phone that works fine but I look at the phone that my husband has and what several others have and think that it would be awfully nice to have one like that. I am going to go check them out later this week but in the meantime I have been checking reviews and opinions and benefits of the ones that I think I would like the best. I tried out my husband's touch screen phone and discovered that fingernails and his phone don't work too well together. I am thinking that a phone that has a touch screen and a regular keyboard might work the best with my fingers so I have a keyboard when I want to type and a touch screen when I want to browse the internet, etc. But I need to put that aside to concentrate on the work that I have before me.

Today I have some shirts to finish embroidering. I ordered several polo shirts, dress shirts, and hoodie sweatshirts yesterday for some customers. I have to get some information together for embroidering on them. I also want to get some of the smaller projects done that I have had on the back burner for awhile. Monday night I made something for myself. I made a laptop pad to put on my lap under my laptop when I am working at home to make it more comfortable to set on my lap when I am working at home or somewhere other than my shop. It has a sleeve to put my laptop in when I need to take it somewhere. I need to take advantage of the time I have today to get caught up on the smaller projects and maybe even get some of the bigger ones started.

If anyone is reading and has any advice on my phone dilemma then I would be happy to read what you have for advice. It is really not that big of a deal and I don't know why I am so consumed with this decision except that there are so many options out there now. If there wasn't though then I would be discouraged because there wasn't. Hope everyone has a great day.

Aligator man

2011-08-02T15:49:00.000-05:00

I just finished and delivered the alligator doll that I made a complete motorcycle outfit for out of vinyl. Was it ever a challenge. I made pants, chaps, and a jacket out of a fairly heavy vinyl. I had to take apart the original outfit and then make a pattern. After I made the pattern then I had to figure out how to put it together and make it fit this doll. The doll consisted of a stuffed doll body with a real alligator head and feet attached. The alligator was real but had been preserved. I am not really sure what the correct term for it is. I would normally have said stuffed but it wasn't really stuffed at all. I am so happy to have that out of my hair. The guy I made it for may want more eventually but for now he is gone and I am relieved.

Now on to bigger and better things. I have a shirt to finish making for my son. I made a "bear' for my grand daughter but it didn't really turn out like what I had in mind so I am going to make something else for her. I know she is impatiently waiting to see what grandma makes her. I think she will like my newer project better. I also have the usual jeans to shorten, a small embroidery project as well as the church and home things going on. Just thinking about it all makes me tired just to think on it. It is almost 4:00 and I am just not feeling very peppy right now. I am thinking about just going home and starting early in the morning. That silly alligator wore me out, caused me to have bad dreams and in general has given me a lot of trouble but it was a challenge and I am thankful for the work so I guess he wasn't so bad after all. He definitely was a conversation piece. Look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Another Busy Day

2011-07-28T07:46:00.000-05:00

I got a lot accomplished yesterday. I am so thankful that I was able to put the discouragement and frustration of the previous day behind me and made a lot of progress on the "Alligator Man" and his clothing issues. I got the pants altered to the specs of my customer and just about finished the chaps. Today I need to try and get the jacket taken apart, make a pattern and then construct a new jacket, after I do that I need to put the jacket back together that I took apart to make the pattern. I also have to embroider a few hats for delivery tomorrow.

Today I also have to go and fix supper and prepare the house for some friends that are coming to spend a couple of days. I really appreciate these friends, they have provided me so much comfort when I have went through so many difficult times. I feel so privileged that they are coming to see us on their way to go to see some other friends. They have been family when my family was not there and did not understand what I was feeling or going through. It is wonderful to have friends like that who are so Godly and such a blessing.

I guess I better get started so I can get something done. Hope everyone has a great day.

Disappointment

2011-07-27T06:19:00.000-05:00

I spent the majority of the day working on a project for someone. I worked on it for about 90% of the day and way into the night. When it was all done it was not at all what I had in mind. I had a picture in my mind of what I wanted and how it would look and how the person I was making it for would look with it and when all was done it was not at all what I had pictured and was pretty disappointed in not the work but what the finished product looked like. What to do now. I seriously considered tearing it apart and trying to recycle it into something else, of not giving it to the person that it was intended for or just putting it into the reject pile somewhere until I decided what exactly to do with it. I can't say that I have arrived at a decision yet about whether to give it to the person or do one or even all of the above.

To make my discouragement for the day complete, I received some messages that completed the disappointed to make the day seem like a total waste of time. Isn't that the way life is? You work very hard to raise your kids and have a picture in your mind about how they will turn out, or you work hard to produce some product or to reach some goal and when it does not happen in the way that you have pictured, you are not sure whether it can the finished product can be "recycled", or should be scrapped completely.

Part of the reason it was so discouraging was that the whole day was spent working on this project when I could have been doing something else that also needed to be done for other projects that are still waiting to be done, this is some of what led me to feel so discouraged. It wasn't like I didn't have many other things that were just as pressing or even more pressing, and possibly even more likely to be more financially rewarding.

So the project sits on the coffee table as I consider what I am going to do with or about it. I am so glad that when I am discouraged I have a Heavenly Father that understands my heart and what my intentions were and does not jump on the bandwagon to beat up on me emotionally. That He does understand my heart and what I was thinking and feeling and what my motivations are. He does not misunderstand me or jump to the wrong conclusions as sometimes happens when I try to express my feelings, or opinions to family members or others.

But on a brighter note, my new refrigerator is working great. EVEN THE ICEMAKER is working great. Talk about a blessing. Especially considering that it is already 83 degrees and it is about 6 a.m.

As to the discouragement about yesterday, I know that I need to take all the discouraging things that happened yesterday and take them to the Lord and lay them at his feet. I can not change or "undo" all the time I spent on this project that right now seems to have been a complete waste of materials as well as my time. I need to go and spend time with him and lay the sadness because of the messages that I had yesterday and the discouragement with my project at his feet and allow him to speak to my heart and realize that today is a new day with new opportunities and not waste my time feeling sorry for myself because of what happened or what did not happen yesterday.

Day of Rest

2011-07-24T06:47:00.000-05:00

After all the firestorm I stirred up in my family about my observations about the direction and choices many people seem to be making, I declare it a day of rest. Actually the Lord has already declared it a day of rest and worship in His Word, the Bible. I am only confirming and obeying his declarations.

Yesterday, I finished the shirt I was making for my son. He was pleased with the choice of fabric as well as the fit. That was a big relief. It is always trying to buy fabric based on what you think someone is wanting. I really am very reluctant to buy fabric for anyone. It is a little different for a family member, hopefully I know them better, but it is still kind of risky. I was very pleased that he was pleased. I have one more to make for him.

I enjoyed my day at my shop yesterday, with no company and no obligations to go anywhere, my son doesn't really count as company, he is family. I am looking forward to a great service in the house of the Lord today. It is such a privilege to go to the House of the Lord and to worship Him and to hear a message from His Word.

I am really sorry that the members of my family who read my feelings and comments about the seeming trend in our country seemed to feel that it was directed at them. Actually it was just an observation of the state and mindset of our nation in general. If they felt this was an attack on them or their actions then I am truly sorry. It was brought out by one of my son's comments but not directed at him or anyone else. If someone feels that filing and getting disability settlements is justified that is between them in the Lord. As for me and my feelings I would be very reluctant to do that and would only do it if there was no other options. I have been in bad accidents and been hurt very badly but it never entered my mind to see if I could make money off of the accident because it was just that an accident. My husband has also been in bad accidents and he feels the same way. Again if my feelings and observations have offended them or made them uncomfortable then I am sorry.

Today after serving the Lord and worshiping him in our church, I plan to make a Zucchini Parmesan casserole. I made it the other day for the first time and it was wonderful. Better yet it is compliant with my diet. My husband and I really liked it and it is something I can fix and have in the oven while I am in church.

I hope everyone has a great day and is going to give the Lord the time and service that is our reasonable service. I completely agree with one of my favorite Pastors. He always says "Be obedient to God and leave all the consequences to Him". Have a great day.

Soap Box

2011-07-23T07:57:00.000-05:00

I have been having an interesting discussion with two of my sons and their wives. This discussion revolved around the applying for disability compensation by my oldest son after serving in the Marines for almost 20 years. He posted on a social network that after hearing about a colleague had applied for disability compensation who had applied for compensation and being awarded a hefty amount monthly(this award amounted to more that my husband and I make together a month). This discussion revolved about the right of being awarded disability compensation when the applicant was not totally disabled and in fact was expecting to be compensated for all the things that come with living. My son wrote me (and also his wife) that he suffered from allergies, had sprained an ankle, broke an ankle, and suffered miscellaneous minor maladies, which is why he expected to be compensated, I wrote him that in my view that it seemed that the world in general, especially people that live in the U.S. have come to expect the government to meet their every need instead of relying and looking to God to meet their needs. The basic response by most people have is that they feel that the government should come to their rescue when there is a disaster, an illness, a injury or they need medical attention or if anything else happens. The biggest majority of people don't want God telling them what is right and wrong, they don't want to even admit that He has the right to do that. People would rather depend on a government to administer and supply their needs than to obey God.

My personal feelings is that the biggest majority of people that are on disability compensation or get awarded compensation are not disabled to the point they can not find a way to support themselves. This point was driven home when I was watching the news one evening and saw a story about a man who had been in a wheel chair since he was a child and suffered from cerebral palsy, yet he lived in his own apartment and supported himself by working from his home. I have no doubt that those in my family, as well as others, because of incidents that have happened in their lives have resulted in injuries or limit their abilities in one or more areas. My point is because of those injuries or limitations in one area, does that mean that they are not able to care or provide for their families? Does that mean that they can not can not hold meaningful employment? No that is not the case at all. What they are wanting is to collect money from the government so that they can have more things and/or so they do not have to work for a living. They consider that they have the right to this compensation even though they are still able to function in many areas, although they may be limited in some ways. They are not crippled, they are not mentally disabled, they are not bed fast, they are not even in wheel chairs. They partake in any and every activity that they want to take part in. I am well aware that humans suffer from various maladies and diseases as well as limitations in physical activities because of age or injuries. My feeling is that usually even though you suffer in one area does not mean that you cannot find a way to support yourself or to care for your family by using a different area. I have known nurses who were diabetic, even brittle diabetics, that still continued to hold a job in spite of this disease. I have seen and known of persons that were injured in some way and spent their life in wheel chairs that still supported their families and/or cared for their families and did not use their disability as an excuse to leave their children unattended or uncared for or unsupported. I personally feel that a mother's biggest employment should be in caring for their children and maintaining their home and not spending all their time and energy on outside employment, unless it is necessary because the head of the house is unable or unwilling to provide for his family.

In summation I feel that the root cause for this feeling that most people would rather allow the government to be their provider and to allow the government to supply all their needs, justified or not, and they would rather answer to a human government than to God. They do not want God to tell them what to do, they would rather allow the government to do that. They don't want God in their lives, they don't want to answer to Him, they don't want Him to tell them what they are doing is wrong. They would rather allow the government to legislate, regulate, tax them. People would rather depend on some bureaucrat or politician to supply their need and become dependent on them than to depend on a totally just and loving God who never sleeps, who never lies, who loves them enough to give his only Son, to die for them, who always keeps his Word, and has promised to supply their every need. I have seen in my life that God has always supplied my every need, and quite a few of my wants. I would rather depend on God than a bureaucrat or a politician to supply my need. I would rather have what God wants me to have than to have whatever collection of "things" that I may get from living a worldly life and depending on the government. People in general don't want to have to do without anything. They have become so addicted to having all their comforts, their toys, their worldly things that they are afraid that if they start allowing God to provide their needs that they will lose some of those things as well as having God tell them how they are living their lives is wrong and they don't want Him interfering in their lives. They will go to church, , they will be what the world would consider as moral, good people, but they don't want God keeping them from having or doing whatever they want to do.

I realize that this is a very unpopular idea. I know that there are people who truly need help at one time or another. I have been in a position where I really needed help in order to feed my kids and keep a roof over their heads until I was able to get a job. But it was only UNTIL I got a job. We did without a lot of "things" but we had what we really needed. I am not against helping those that cannot help themselves. I am just personally against receiving compensation as long as there is a way to provide for myself in a way that is according to what I understand that God teaches in His Word.

Relief in the battle of the refrigerator war.

2011-07-22T17:59:00.000-05:00

I think that we have seen a victory in the battle of the refrigerator. The new refrigerator was installed yesterday. So far we already have more ice in the ice maker container than we have had in three days with the other refrigerator. I am relieved to see the latest chapter in the refrigerator war draw to a close.

Today I went and spent the morning with my couple I care for and had a busy morning there. I left there to run into Coffeyville to run errands, deliver hats, and go to the bank. I returned home and visited with my husband for a while who was home for lunch and discovered that the internet that was down last night was back up and running.

I then came out to my shop and proceeded to make my youngest son some dress shirts to wear to church and made quite a bit of progress with them before someone came to pick up the shirts I had embroidered for them. After he got here and saw the hat that he also had me do, he decided he needed 2 more hats. So I pleaded with my embroidery machine to be nice and not let me down as I put them on the embroidery machine to sew the design on. It was very cooperative and he was very happy with all of them. Now I think I will have almost enough to make my machine payment. That is indeed an answer to prayer. This time of year is very slow generally, so it is always kind of touch and go about making payments. About the time school starts it usually starts picking back up and then up until Christmas I am usually very busy.

It always makes my day when I do some work for someone and they are pleased with my work. It is even better than collecting the money. To know that someone is happy with something that I have done is such a wonderful feeling. After supper tonight I will get back to my son's shirts and try and get one done so he can try it on tomorrow. I get to spend the whole day at home by myself tomorrow. That has not been possible very much for the last month.

Today's events

2011-07-21T11:13:00.000-05:00

Today they came early to install my new refrigerator. I will miss some things on my old one but I am sure I will quickly recuperate if the new one works properly with an at least adequate amount of ice for two people, freezes what it is supposed to freeze and cools what it is supposed to cool. I don't think that is asking a whole lot.

After lunch I am planning on running an errand or so and then I am going to get busy doing embroidery and also going to cut out and attempt to get finished a shirt for my son who is in need of some dress shirts. By the time I finish the embroidery that needs to get done and get the shirt cut out I think that will take up most of the rest of the day.

I am ready to get to work and to put this whole refrigerator episode behind me and get back to real work.

Finally

2011-07-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

Finally after a whole week of frustration and time we have finally (at least I hope) resolved our refrigerator issues. They are supposed to deliver a new refrigerator (whirlpool, this time) tomorrow around lunch time. I am really praying that it works correctly and that the icemaker works as well as the rest of the refrigerator, so we can put this whole thing behind us and enjoy the new refrigerator.

Yesterday afternoon I was able to get out in the shop after way too many days and actually get some work done. I replaced a zipper in two pair of jeans, hemmed another pair, had a customer drop off 2 pair of jeans to be patched and a shirt to have a button replaced, and also was able to get the embroidery done on a bag that was also dropped off yesterday. I also made phone calls and did some busy work. After I finished all that then I did some chores outside. I needed to mulch some of my bushes because it has been so hot they are about to burn up. I can't afford to water them as much as they probably need it so I am hoping this will help them survive until it rains.

The biggest part of the morning yesterday I spent judging the 4H clothing and sewing construction projects that kids 7-16 had been doing for their projects this year. The youngest ones really showed some promise in sewing. A little 7 year old girl and a 9 year old boy as well as a 12 year old girl had really done some excellent work. the 12 year old had done a great job sewing but she had also been very creative and altered the pattern on several of the things she had made and I was as impressed with her pattern designing as much as with the actual construction of the items she made. I have to admit I was pretty nervous about the protocols and requirements but once I saw the projects that these young people had brought I forgot all about that and just enjoyed seeing and discussing their projects with them and with how they might want to improve them in the future. It was really a lot of fun.

Today I am back in the shop and getting ready to see what I need to do first and get my projects lined up for the day. I have ran my morning errands and I am ready to get to work.