apriltwoeighty

a few more things..

2012-02-05T19:45:00.000-05:00

i recently saw this photo on the workroom's flickr:

and was inspired to start thinking about creating a quilting journal for myself - to document my own projects, as well as those i'll be teaching (and making) in classes this winter/spring....

i am also planning something else i will be doing with my classes - i bought an index card book (spiral bound), and will be documenting each student that i teach to. it will have their name, addy, phone number, email address, skill level, class(es) taken from me, favorite types of fabrics/colors. i would like to be able to keep track of everyone (beginners, those who take more than one class, etc)... if i can personalize things, i'd like to! maybe even do drawings for a free class...

i will also be making some kits for some of my quilting classes (included in the cost of class) - with extra kits to be sold at our shop! so, the month of february has me totally booked - need to finish my class outlines/pricing, make kits for applicable classes, make kits for the shop, make example pieces for classes, teach hexies at alewives(!), keep working on spring etsy stuff, finish up a commissioned quilt i finally worked on today (photo to follow...), and keep my apartment somewhat clean and the laundry done. and you know, go to work. and sleep? yawn...

so, that commissioned baby quilt is for my aunt, she is giving it as a gift -

the sex of the baby is unknown so i tried to keep it fairly neutral - they asked for browns, greens, yellows, and oranges. i have to admit, i wanted to keep it fairly simple due to lack of planning and time on my part, so i just made up some charm squares.. easy! i snuck a few of those half-square triangle blocks i've had milling about in there, too. :) i should have probably started it long before now, but it kind of snuck onto the back burner (along with kelly's pillow cover..). anyway, here is a peek - none of the (4-patch) (or pinwheel) blocks (or rows) are sewn to each other yet, and i have yet to cut out my border and backing fabrics.. but my binding is already made, so thats a huge help. my goal is to get this done this coming week/end - in between lounge shopping tomorrow evening, hanging out with my bestie one night, and physical therapy on thursday pm. {this coming weekend we will be getting the larger things up on the walls, as well as hopefully getting our fabric in!!} not a lot of free time, but who needs free time? i've got free time RIGHT NOW - because the boyfriend is at work and i'm not a fan of the superbowl, so honey and i are curled up on the couch with a package of cough drops (yeah, lets not talk about this cold i seem to be fighting). ♥

photo prints!

2012-02-05T18:35:00.001-05:00

so, some more exciting news...

in march, when we open up The Atelier Stitch, i will be selling 5x7" prints of some of my sewing related photos! i may also end up selling them in my etsy shop, but i only had a couple of each print made for now. here are a bunch of the ones i chose. :) i had a lot of quilt photos i wanted to use, but i didn't want to just single out my work, since we are a sewing lounge and not a quilting lounge... i ordered some cellophane sleeves, just need to get some cardstock to put inside for sturdiness.

weekend catch-up.

2012-02-04T21:27:00.002-05:00

this weekend is half over, and has already proved incredibly productive and slightly exhausting! ;)

i managed to finally get some photos of the mini quilts i've been working on for etsy!

(i will be teaching a class, eventually, on how to make a log cabin block like this to make a pillow cover :))

aren't they so cute? i had a grat time picking scraps! (thanks again, kim!)

i spent hours this morning doing some computer work for the new lounge/shop. making paper advertising flyers, printing logo cards for prices in our retail section, and starting to type up my class outlines/pricing.

tomorrow i will spend most of the day working on a commissioned quilt that i should have already started on.. it is a gift from my aunt to a friend for their new baby due in march. i have the charms cut out, but must be sewing!! i'll be sneaking some of those HST's into it, too. ;)

some pretties from the sewing room:

and a helper, caught in the act....

this week, as a treat to myself for all of my hard work (and mostly because i was in desperate need of it..), i went out and bought myself some new clothes! i tried to get mostly brighter and happier spring colors, as i'd mostly been just wearing denim and black this winter. ugh. plus, i will need some seriously cute clothes when i'm teaching my classes! ;)

today's weekend outfit...

and, the haul:

look at these two, who i found on the couch earlier today... aww.. haha...

you can totally tell how much honey just loves being squished.. ;)

this one of me was taken by the boyfriend.

almost time to touch up the turquoise streak. its fading so fast!

and our pretty girl, no more cone!

YAY!

she got a great review at the vet this past week, so we're all happy about that. ♥

and of course, the little man, wookiee.

looking so pensive. (could he be any cuter?!)

and rockie, the mighty hunter, with her kills from overnight.

she leaves them all on my bedside. ♥

current reads:

and a quick shot from the couch, where i'm spending the evening relaxing. SIGH.

G and i went to do some lounge decor shopping tonight - we were very successful and have lots to do still in there before we open March 2nd! i hope that next weekend, after getting things hung and organized (and getting our fabrics in! eeeeek!), we will be able to get some great updated photos. its really starting to look like a shop now. so exciting!

see you soon!

etsy blowout sale!

2012-02-04T12:34:00.003-05:00

in order to make room in my etsy shop for new spring '12 items,

i've made an etsy coupon code for 25% off

(look for the coupon code link at checkout)!!

a small update.

2012-02-01T19:50:00.000-05:00

okay, this post doesn't have a whole lot of shop talk in it, but it does have a wookiee in a box! ;)

(haha!! i was packing up some stuff to take over the shop and turned my back just long enough to get a book off of the shelf, and he jumped right in and sat down..)

so far, this week has been all about catching up. catching up on a shower (its crazy how easily i can forget to do something so simple), covering my gray hairs (with a bit of black), laundry (so much laundry), cleaning up around the apartment (which between my craziness lately, and the boyfriend being at work until midnight, it looks like a bomb went off), taking honey to the vet (she got her sutures/stitches out!), making budgets and balancing checkbooks, cleaning out the fridge... you get the picture. pretty much nothing had been done around here in a week or two. i'm trying to be cool about it, but i swear its going to give me a nervous tick.

meanwhile, i've been doing a bit of selective fabric shopping these past few weeks... i ordered a couple more great (new) suzuko koseki fabrics from japan, a couple of text prints, as well as some other good standards...

the koseki (& whatnot) pile:

the standards!:

(yes, thats 3 yards of the AMH on top! swoooooon...)

last week my bestie came over to help me cut out a bazillion zip pouches..

i worked on a bunch of mini quilts - these are their backings etc...

and i started a couple more hexie hoops :)

and lately, my favorite song to put on when i'm trying to get pretty much anything done

(which always ends in dancing)..

okay, and maybe this one, too...

♥

i read this week via paramore's website that they're starting the process for their 4th album.

SUPER EXCITED!!! ;)

i promise-

2012-01-30T22:09:00.001-05:00

i won't always be writing about the shop.. but right now its pretty much taking up about 80% of my life (the other 20% are equally distributed between home and dayjob = not enough time to do everything!). we got in there a bit yesterday and tonight to get a little decorating and organizing done, and it is definitely starting to take shape! we've already got some fat quarter and scrap bundles ready to sell, just waiting on our bolt fabrics. i have about a month before i start teaching there, so i'm trying to diligently chip away at my class selections and lesson plans. (but, again, trying to fit that into that 20% has been difficult!) i will be teaching a hexie class at alewives at the end of february, so that will be a nice refresher before i get into it more often. i have so many ideas for classes but have to make sure they are cohesive and interesting and that i can actually organize my thoughts in a way to appropriately discuss them. haha....

anyway, i hope to have more photos soon - both of the shop and a few things happening at home.

honey goes back to the vet on wednesday (for those of you keeping score) to get her sutures/stitches out, with fingers crossed that we'll be back to "normal" soon. (i use quotes, because, well, normal is relative around here.)

thanks to the commenter who mentioned the book, wishcraft - my bff went and bought it for me! i'm so excited to read it (and then loan it back to her so she can read it too!)! i'm so incredibly lucky and humbled at how awesome the people i've surrounded myself with are.. the timing for friendships is so important, i think, for you to really appreciate them as a really important part of your life. and i'm really feeling that lately. ♥ the support i've been getting on this endeavor (and even beforehand, when i was just in the dream phase, before this was sort of just placed upon me) is overwhelming and awesome. so, thankyou for all of the feedback and support, it really means more to me than i can type on this little blog. i hope all of you locals will get a chance to visit or take a class (or two or three!) with us this winter/spring - our grand opening event will be for the first friday in march.

more soon!!

xoxo

QUESTION!

2012-01-27T19:16:00.001-05:00

hey everyone!(i finally got our logo done! yay!)

i've got a question for you, in hopes that you can help us out at The Atelier Stitch in our beginning stages... we're working on making our lesson plans, class schedules, and brochures for the next couple of months. if you are local (as i know some of you are), or even if you are far away -

what types of classes would you like to take from us?

any type of sewing or quilting class... we're interested in what kinds of things you may be interested in learning about! maybe a specific type of quilt block, or perhaps you're a beginner and would like to learn from scratch? are you looking to make a smaller or larger project? a particular garment or piece of clothing? maybe something for your home, or an accessory? anything that can be made with needle and thread, we want to know if you want to make it! so toss out any ideas you may have! we appreciate it!

related: i'll be heading to our new space for the first time on sunday, and i can't wait! i think my partner, G., has been making great progress without me so far, but i'm psyched to start putting my mark on things! she has already been in there teaching a couple of classes, but i won't be starting until march.. i need more time to prepare my classes and will hopefully work on that a bit this weekend. before that, though, i fully intend to sleep in a bit tomorrow morning if at all possible. its not something i hardly ever do, but i've been a little under the weather this week, and with so much going on i don't want to get too run down. so, a little sleep will do me good, and then its back to planning!

see you soon! ♥

the big business news!

2012-01-25T14:23:00.000-05:00

hey friends! the good news! i can finally share it!

...my awesomely crafty sewing friend/business partner, Giselle, and i are opening up our very own SEWING LOUNGE in downtown portland! this was option A...

we've got a great space in the state theater building (for those of you who are local!), which G has started setting up... and by march 1st you will be able to buy fabrics (we will hopefully have about a half dozen bolts of free spirit fabrics to start) & notions, and take sewing/quilting classes from us (and others!) at The Atelier Stitch!

there is so much work to be done! many more details (and official website/FB page) on the space and classes to come ASAP! ♥

i will be coordinating on this project and teaching classes part time while i continue to work my everyday full time job. its an incredible opportunity to start towards my goal of opening my own shop down the line, i couldn't pass it up!

here are a few photos that G took last week of the space (her hubby & little boy are in the photos, too)... its still in its beginning stages as far as getting set up, organized, and decorated - but we have big plans!!

more on this as soon as i've got more to share!!
♥

meanwhile, honey had to have another small surgery this week, which put me a bit over the edge. my car is having issues, its tax time, and i'm a bit of a mess. not enough sleep. a mess.
a.
mess.

but.... that'll turn around soon. it has to, because i've got a lot to do...

so,

2012-01-22T19:17:00.001-05:00

i know i said before that i'd probably be taking a blogging break in january, but here i am!

too much going on and too much to talk about to not be here.

this weekend, there has been a lot of this:

and snow.

....being a life-long mainer, snow is easy to handle. the resurgence of the cat-in-the-cone for four days thing, not so much. i've got to admit, its incredibly hard not to panic when honey has her flareups. she gets them, but not nearly as often as she used to pre-surgery. these days her issue is common but not rush-to-the-vet important. we manage it with meds & time, mostly. this weekend, though.. ugh. we're coming up on day five of being in the cone, nothing seems to be helping, and she's been partially confined to her bed in the bathroom (mostly because i can't stand to re-wash all of the surfaces of the apartment again. we're going to see how she does overnight tonight, and then it may be off to the vet tomorrow. fingers crossed that won't be the case (but i'll be at work, so the responsibility will fall on the boyfriend, who luckily is way more level-headed than i am). ......so, we got some more snow this weekend. piece of cake!

okay, now for the stuff you want to know about.. ;)

all of that good stuff that i posted about in my last entry is still up in the air. our meeting this weekend for option A has been rescheduled to sometime this coming week. i promise to update about that as soon as i know for sure what's happening. if all goes as planned, i will be very very very excited to share with you the details! and i'll be even more excited to share with the local people who may follow along here, because you'll be able to reap the benefits of the project!

for now.. onto some little newbies and projects from my sewing room...

i did a great swap with a flickr friend last week for a piece of this great map fabric i'd had my eye on..

and purchased some more of these koseki buttons from ayumi!

i was able this weekend (in between cat wrangling, planning, and succumbing to headaches and small naps) to start work on my new etsy items! things will look mighty different in my shop, hopefully sooner rather than later; i wish i had more time to dedicate to it right now.. but, a start is a good thing. and my bestie will be over one night this week to help me do some more!

these are just sneak peeks for now! :)

a bunch of hoops, small and big (14"!)!...

and, a couple of mini quilts...

i also started on sorting my scraps out of a dozen ziplocs into an over-the-door shoe organizer i got at target.. i saw the original idea on pinterest and its a great space saver! i think i might have too many scraps to fit in here, but thats okay, i'm always trying to use up what i can in projects.. i have a few more ziplocs to sort through..

i hope everyone has a great week ahead..

i'll be running around like a mad woman,

but i'll be back soon when i have news!

the world works in mysterious ways...

2012-01-19T20:42:00.001-05:00

well, no sooner had i wrote my last blog post and sent a couple of emails to a couple of friends and/or contacts, did i receive back two separate emails with two separate business propositions. option A is for a brand new project in downtown portland that is in the planning/renting/soon-to-be-setup stages (ready to start business march 1); and option B is further out by a couple of years for an already established business looking to change hands.

needless to say, i have not slept much this past week or so. i have so much to think about, so many numbers to crunch, so many ideas swirling, and a meeting to go to on sunday morning to discuss option A (which has two options within it! ha!) and get things rolling. i can't really explain either of these in any detail, but you should know that they both have to do with fabric, sewing, classes, and the public. are you freaking out yet? because i am!

i can tell you that this option A, which is what i am currently focusing on (since it is happening soon - and by soon, i pretty much mean now!), won't allow me to quit my day job. it may not even see me making a large amount of revenue, but it will provide me with countless amounts of experience, and sometimes that is just as valuable as money. for option A i would be a partner of a smaller percentage - likely 30%, but possibly just 10%.

option B is incredible, but will require a couple of years and a lot of bank funding; plus, we may not even be living locally by then, so i really can't get into that project until the boyfriend graduates. i'll tell you, it would be a full-time all-the-time gig, and it would require some restructuring. in the meantime, i may be able to do a bit of work with option B that doesn't involve the initial pitched deal i received - namely classes. easy enough for now!

sighhhhhhhh... my brain is on overload. i did manage to do a bit of etsy sewing tonight. i didn't finish any one project, but bounced around amongst a few different ones.. i have plans to work on a bunch of it this coming weekend, and one night next weekend my bestie is coming over to help me cut out some zip pouches! slowly but surely..

i hopefully will have more news to share this weekend about things. stay tuned!! ♥

these things take time.

2012-01-17T20:46:00.000-05:00

today i had one of those days that i tend to have every once in a while (or more often than i like to admit), where i know that i'm not doing what i am supposed to be doing. i'm waking up in the morning, going to work like everyone else, coming home and doing things around my home, and going to sleep. a normal day, a normal week. and i realize its pretty normal to dislike your job - i don't know many people who love theirs. i think thats a rarity; but its a goal of mine - i know that where i'm at right now is not where i'm supposed to be.

i've talked about this before, in my entry from last fall: be the change you want to see. i've mentioned my goals for opening up my own fabric, textiles, and sewing classes shop. i've talked about the work & sweat included in such an endeavor. and that work & sweat is exactly where my head was all day today while i bustled around the OR. i don't like to downplay my job, i realize that it is a moderately important job and that i'm good at it - but almost anyone can be trained to do what i do. i work for my paycheck, it (mostly) pays the bills, and the health insurance is awesome. these are important things to consider, but i know that sometimes my heart isn't in it.

one of the major downfalls of working monday thru friday, 9-5, is that it leaves very little time to sew. sewing for etsy can't even really be considered my second job because i can't produce in the quantities i'd like to. for now its just a hobby that makes me a small bit of cash from time to time. by the time i get home at night and have dinner, shower, pick up around the house, tend to the cats, and get a minute to myself, i'm so exhausted that the thought of sitting down to sew for a few hours is daunting. i tend to spend more of my evening time online, searching out inspiration and corresponding with my faraway crafty friends. i save my sewing for weekends - but lets face it, those go by just as fast (if not faster!). i have to really buckle down to get work done without distraction.

not being able to find enough time to make my etsy wares, and not being able to make enough money from them once their made - it feels like a vicious cycle. i'm not making back nearly what i should be. is it because people don't have the money to spend? or because my items aren't desirable? i did fairly well with my last round of pillow covers before the holidays, and have always been mostly confident that my products are of good quality and style. back when i used to sew for etsy a whole lot more (when i only worked part time!), i used to zip through the custom orders and regular sales and almost couldn't keep up with the supply/demand. i stopped selling on etsy for this reason (and also because i wanted to take some time to sew for the fun of it instead of the work of it). the more i think about it, the more i realize i'm not necessarily cut out to sew to sell, but i sometimes feel like i have no choice with a room full of fabric and a need for extra income. it just makes sense. but does it?

i love fabric. i love creating with it. i love helping others create with it. i love the color, the design, the texture, the style, the creative and amazing people who design it. i can see a piece of fabric and instantly imagine a dozen uses for it. i'm a planner, a sketcher, thinker, stacker, sorter and matcher. even when i can't make anything with my fabric, i can always be found scheming with it. i think sometimes that i like that part of the creative process far more than the actual creating part. (than the actual sewing part!) i sew because i'm good at it and am always looking to learn and occupy what little free time i have, but i'll be honest - i sew because i love the fabrics. i know that owning my own shop is a good compromise. i know that it puts me in a good space to do what i enjoy.(i've been collecting great fabric shop inspiration photos on pinterest..) (edited to add: i've given myself a reasonable goal of 2015 to open up shop. if it happens before then, i'll be elated. if not, three years seems like a good amount of time to get educated, research, save, and do it!)

the most frustrating part is having a hard time getting it all sorted. the boyfriend doesn't graduate until may. who knows how long it will take him to get his new job with his new mechanical engineering job. who knows where we will have to move to, or if we will have to move at all. the idea of opening up a shop outside of my home town is far more inviting to me than doing it here in portland (owning a shop in portland, frankly, scares the crap out of me - the rent is high, the city is so ever-changing, would it be popular? is the market too saturated already? can i succeed with the competition?). the boyfriend is constantly remarking to me that i'm always talking about moving away. when he said that tonight, i finally said, "its because i am not happy where i'm at right now!!!" i'm desperate for that change. not to leave my family and my friends, but to have the chance to do what i really want to do. i feel stuck here.

a friend of mine is opening up a sewing lounge here in downtown portland, to offer sewing classes of all sorts and to sell some fabrics (on a smaller scale than i'd hope to) - and i can't appropriately explain the elation i have for her, but the incredible jealousy i feel, watching her embark on this project. i find myself floundering on how to even get started. not knowing what to do first, ontop of the anxiousness of possibly moving (and packing and sorting and goodwill-ing), its overwhelming. i want to have all of my ducks in a row, but i can't quite yet. still five more months until graduation and even getting a glimmer of information on where we'll end up. it may take longer than that. it could be a year! it could be longer! i'm too impatient. i don't know what to do in the meantime. besides run in circles....

i'm contemplating doing another small fabric destash on etsy to start raising some funds. i would like to have a small nest egg incase things come up in the near future, regarding our future. i'd like to have a bit set aside incase i want to take a business class, or incase we have to rent a u-haul. all of the proceeds from my etsy shop will be going directly into the savings account for that same purpose. the spring etsy items are going to be amazing, once i can sit down to sew them. i promise! if you want to help support me, ten or fifteen or forty dollars a pop, i will appreciate each and every one of your sales. {that reminds me! there is a coupon code going on right now - NEWYEAR2012 - will get you 15% off your order!!!}

mostly i just need to stop thinking about it, because i can't really do anything right now anyway. except, i can use this time wisely. to motivate myself. i don't mean to wish the days away, there are good things happening every day... tomorrow night the nearly-sister-in-law, myself, and my favorite bestie are going to get together for thai food and girl talk. i'm soooooo looking forward to it. ♥

in the next couple of months, i'd like to come up with my business plan, mission statement, and shop name. those are tangible goals that can be done ahead of time. come up with branding, research research research! if anyone has info or thoughts on buying bolts in bulk, please email me! (apriltwoeighty@yahoo.com) all other thoughts and advice is, as always, welcome. for now, i'm going to get my butt back into the sewing room and spend about an hour working on something. a little bit is better than nothing...

bedroom.

2012-01-16T19:34:00.004-05:00

just stopping by to share these photos of our bedroom... its had some updates since i last posted about it (in '11). we don't spend much time in it, unfortunately, so i feel as though it hasn't gotten the love it probably deserves - usually whatever decor doesn't fit in the living room or sewing lounge ends up in the bedroom! ;) its been thrown together, kind of a mish-mash, but i love it anyway. it gets great light and its definitely comfy.

those antique pharmacy bottles i shared with you around christmas time finally got a home (though they still need to be cleaned out!) -

the awkward mirror on the floor isn't permanent, but it has recently served great purpose for taking self portraits! ;)

my favorite part ♥ :

stack of quilts i've made and afghans made by my great-grandmother, in my vintage rocking chair!

the bureau tops are constantly a work in progress. the vintage doll was made by my boyfriend's aunt, who is currently terminally ill so it really means a lot to us. the framed photos are of the boyfriend's mom, sister & twin nephews, and aunt over the years. the antique wash basin & pitcher belonged to my grandmother. and of course, the photos of the boyfriend & i. ♥

the door to our closet is covered in my must-have for pretty much every outfit - scarves! as well as my coach wristlet the boyfriend got me for christmas a couple of years ago, and the best vintage sequin shirt.

and of course, our bedroom wouldn't be complete without one of the three cats awkwardly cleaning themselves while i'm trying to photograph things! ;) (usually its honey, because she insists on helping with everything.)

i'm here!

2012-01-14T21:12:00.001-05:00

hey everybody! i'm stopping by with a hefty update to show you some new things going on here..

i've been spending my time getting ready to buckle down this winter and work on some projects and spring etsy items, as you know.. its included some new DS fabrics, new gutermann thread (i didn't actually need, i do have a ton, but i couldn't pass them up on sale!), and some more hoops..

the stack of projects to-do has grown, and i have it all sketched out....

the boyfriend & i recently did a bit of redecorating. actually, we downright swapped the living room and sewing room so that i could have a bigger space! the room has now been dubbed the art lounge. i'm hoping to get a really pretty chaise lounge in there, but that might have to wait (for some money! ;)). the great thing about swapping rooms/redecorating is that i didn't have to buy a single thing for this room.. just set it up a bit differently! we left the expedit shelf in there, which i love.

you can see the rest of the pics, here. ♥

in non sewing related stuff...

i recently leveled out my hair color to a dark auburn/brown color, which feels weird.

but i'm still loving the sidecut!

just a coupla' ladies!

(oh, honey.. ♥ )

and gettin' gussied up (yeah, in my ripped jeans... haha..) for a date with the boyfriend...

(we went out to lunch and went to see sherlock holmes. so GOOD!)

okay, thats all for now.
phew!
see you soon!

new goodies.

2012-01-08T21:12:00.001-05:00

this weekend was full of great new mail! i was house sitting most of the time so i had a big ole' pile waiting for me when i got home!!

i'd been eyeballing the new melody miller typewriter fabric for a couple of weeks,

so happy to get my mits on some!

zip pouches, perhaps?! ♥

i'd been on the hunt for some great ribbon for some of my upcoming embroidery hoop etsy projects,

loved this chevron cotton ribbon!

the sampler of colors is perfect for what i'll be doing!

they even included some of the baker's twine... yum.

i found this vintage french embroidered ribbon on etsy (from an italian shop!)

i couldn't pass it up.

its going to fit right in on some of my new projects for etsy!

and last but certainly not least, one of my favorite online friends - kim - and i did a scrap swap...

look at the fabulous loot she sent me!

tula pink's nest and neptune strips, some japanese, heather ross and denyse schmidt pieces!

the list goes on and on!

♥

so much more to share.. but not enough time right now....

sale!

2012-01-06T19:23:00.001-05:00

just a quick reminder that there's a big sale going on at my etsy shop for the new year!

i'm hoping to move all of my 2011 merchandise to make room for new things coming soon!!!

(and also to get funding to buy this for the new sewing "studio"! eek! more about this SOON!)

happy weekend!!

i'm house & doggie sitting, antique hunting, and hopefully doing a bit of sewing later this weekend...

steadily heading into the new year...

2012-01-01T19:59:00.000-05:00

i thought i would start the year off with a big blog post about what will be happening in the following winter months.. i'm anticipating that my blog posts may be few & far between (though i do promise to update!), because i've got quite the list of things to work on - and lets face it, thats what i really should be doing with my time! ;) so, here we go....

i recently got my fabric sorted and reorganized inside of my armoir.. the larger pieces (half yards+) are now hanging with clothes pins (i can fit up to 4 half yards per hanger) and sorter by color. smaller pieces are to the side (fq or smaller, but not quite a scrap!) stacked neatly, while my yardage and kona solids are stacked underneath. (my WIPs are on the shelf below and underneath cabinet.) everything is in its right place, except for scraps - those are going to get sorted another day. i purchased an over the door pocket shoe organizer to hold all of my scraps, which are currently just in ziplocs by color. i've been using them like crazy, but its insane to see how many i still have! i've gotten a few new fabric orders recently (including some suzuko koseki, tula pink, and half moon modern!)... so happy to start off the year with a good arsenal behind me. as usual, though, i really have only purchased fabrics for specific projects, ones i really couldn't live without, or fabrics i KNEW i would use. i can't buy too much since the budget doesn't allow it, so i have to be quite selective.

my first project of 2012 is a pillow cover for kelly. she has offered to quilt up one of my WIPs later in the month for me, so this will be her payment! she requested something scrappy and slightly masculine, since she is the only woman in a house of all dudes. i probably won't get a chance to finish it until a couple of weeks from now (i'm house sitting all next weekend so i'll be away from home again...), but i'm glad to have gotten a good head start. good news, is that she already saw a photo, and she likes it! ;) its definitely a little nervewracking sometimes to try to create something special for such talented crafters!

next on the to-do list for winter is to work on some of my new spring items for my etsy shop. this time, there will be less pillow covers (though, there will be some - and i forgot to photograph the vintage quilt blocks i'll be incorporating into them.. woops!), and a lot of other things. i really wanted to share my love of mixing vintage with modern (which is what i do in my own home) this time. i picked up some amazing vintage quilt blocks, all paper pieced - they even still have the newspaper on the backs! they're in great, clean shape (no weird old smells ;)) and are going to hold up well. i won't tell you exactly what i'm doing, but it will include quilting hoops. you'll just have to wait and see!!

speaking of hoops (the ones above are large, at 14"!!!), i have some smaller embroidery hoops that will be turned into some adorable things, too. shh... just a sneak peek for now!

and while on the subject of the hoops, you may see a couple of these potato sacks with hoops, too.

aside from things with hoops and some pillow covers, there will also be some smaller items (*ahem*zip pouches*cough*) that will be adorned with gathered ruffles and hexies (just not together)....

i've been gathering quite the stack for that endeavor...

i don't want the year to be all about etsy, though.... so, last night after working on kelly's pillow for a bit, i dug out an OLD WIP that hadn't seen the light of day for months. the guy quilt! after laying it out initially when i started it, i lost interest, because honestly it was uninteresting. so, instead of making it just a patchwork charm quilt (gradient in color), i decided that i would turn each row (minus a couple squares) into a disappearing nine patch, and border it with a fun blue or green fabric. initially i was thinking about turning it into a pillow cover, but i knew deep down that the fabrics were calling out to be a quilt as they were intended... the blocks are large, at 18", so it should be a breeze to work on! i plan to border each nine patch with a different fabric to continue in the scrappy feel. it was nice to breathe a little life into a forgotten project. and i think the guy will like it. ;)

last but definitely not least, this winter i hope to work on (among other things!!) a new project - a scrappy log cabin style courthouse steps quilt! i borrowed this book from my mom to use... and i was directly inspired by this project from amanda. i loved the idea of making a neutrals quilt, it goes with any decor, and a lot of my favorite fabrics are neutral (even though i'm really into a lot of bright fabrics!). i've never made a courthouse steps quilt before, and i may up the strip size a teeny bit to fit my skill level better, but i'm excited about this project...

so, if you don't see me around as much as usual, this is what i'll be working on. i'll definitely update with progress, or anything new that pops up in the meantime (you know there's always something)..... but here's to a year of creativity and reasonable goals!! ♥

last year / looking ahead.

2012-01-01T12:13:00.000-05:00

i don't really like to look back these days (as i used to do so much of it in years past), but 2011 left me open to really pave my way forward. more-so than any year i can remember... while the boyfriend plays video games, i'm sitting here thinking about all of the things we made it through, and all of the things that personally snuck up on me. we're waiting for chinese food delivery, are going to watch a funny movie, and generally relax and enjoy each other's company today - because thats the best way to welcome a new year.

personally - we started out the year with so many things stacked against us - honey's surgery, couples counseling, a huge amount of debt (physically and emotionally). lots of tears, late nights, arguments, and many days i can remember feeling very hopeless. despite amazing friends, family, and creative outlets, there were holes that i didn't feel i could fill. i tried yoga. i chopped my hair super short. i redecorated the entire apartment. i planted a huge garden and watched it grow! i went to see 30 Seconds to Mars, Grace Potter, and Sara Bareilles in concert ♥ . i tried to save for a trip to iceland, but the money that i made selling a chunk of my fabric ended up going to honey's surgery. in the end, i sold almost every worth-while piece of fabric in my stash, realizing that the material (no pun intended) things meant so much less than the little furry creature who slept beside me every night. we received over one-thousand dollars in donations and so many amazing notes of encouragement from online friends, which i am still so humbled by - and whenever i think about it i am brought right back to that sense of absolute dumbfounded appreciation that i felt that week (and even in the weeks to follow!). the boyfriend and i took an overnight to a bed and breakfast for my birthday, which caused quite a stir on my blog about money - something that reminded me how strange and personal this blog forum has become. but, i realized how much i need it to be able to connect with the outside world and crafting communities, and that 99.9% of the time, its such a welcoming and amazing thing to be part of. honey recovered well (and the remainder of her surgery cost was paid off by my incredibly generous grandmother!), the boyfriend and i are doing so much better, and despite needing to go to physical therapy every week i am feeling pretty darn good going into 2012. oh, and i learned to drive and got my license.. lets not forget about that! ;) heading into the new year, the debt is better controlled; but so many things are up in the air with the boyfriend graduating in may. where will we end up?!

creatively - i styled my first photoshoot for fidelio photography, took about a million of my own photos, and slowly recouped fabric to my stash (with the help of friends!). i taught two classes at Alewives on how to make paper pieced hexagons (i'll be doing it again this coming february!), as well as hosted my own sewing day in our porch. i started, but never finished, about twelve quilting projects; but in the end it was my return to selling on etsy that took up most of my crafty time. i know that all of the starting & stopping on projects was directly linked to the emotional upheaval i felt on a pretty constant basis - but being confident that '12 will not mirror '11, i've got goals to finish up some (if not all) of those half started quilts - alongside new items for etsy. some people are emotional eaters, but i'm an emotional crafter. and i have a tendency to be a-okay with leaving things by the wayside when i'm done feeling, not when they're actually done. ;) looking ahead, i have a solid plan for etsy (and even already have most of the materials i'll need), a few new projects for myself planned, a couple of commissioned baby quilts lined up, i'll be teaching in a large class and one-on-one basis... and i'll be continuing to research and plan my dream goal of being able to set up my own brick & mortar fabric/textiles/teaching shop, once we know where we're physically headed.

i wish i could say that '11 was more creative than personal, but it wasn't... i did, however, really get a chance to take stock in myself and my personal goals, which sometimes doesn't happen unless forced. so, for that i am thankful. but to 2012, i say this - cut the shit, and lets get crafty!!! ♥

happy new year, friends! XO

long time, no see!!

2011-12-31T09:14:00.002-05:00

hey everybody! i had intended to update long before today.. time really got away from me these past couple of weeks...the lack of photos in the post may be disappointing considering it has been two weeks since i last posted!!!...

just before the holidays, the boyfriend and i acquired quite a few amber glass antique pharmacy apothecary bottles (with glass stoppers!) from the late 1800's. his mom had them at her house way up north, his father had left them behind - he was a pharmacist and found them in the basement of an old pharmacy building. she knows how much i love vintage and antiques, so now they are ours! some of them still have liquids and powders inside, which we will have to dispose of properly... only one or two still have labels on them, the rest had glass labels which broke off over the years. aren't they gorgeous! i can't wait to dust them off and display them properly! some of them are actually quite tall (10+")!

sadly, i realized i didn't take hardly any photos at christmas!! i spent mornings with the boyfriend, and the rest of the days/evenings with my family (parents & brother) after he went to work. it was a great weekend, though slightly scattered. as much as i love gearing up for christmas, i'm always a little relieved when its over. the decorations are down and the living room can return to normal!

the boyfriend got me some amazing gifts... a pair of ugg boots, a couple of books from my amazon wishlist, a paramore tshirt!, and a beautiful silver (double) ring from tiffany's!!! he always does a great job, but this year he really outdid himself! the ring is a promise of sorts, for further on down the road. ;) (not an official promise ring, since when i asked him he said, "i just assume you know we will get married eventually." i try not to assume these things..)

christmas was, as it always is for my family, a joyous holiday. we had the boyfriend's family to my parents' house for breakfast - i love having the two families spend time together, as it doesn't happen all that often. my nearly-sis-in-law, my mom, and i watched bridesmaids.. omg. so hilarious! (i'm such a fan of kristen wig.) mostly we just lounged around and ate until we wanted to pass out.

now, the new year is quickly approaching, in under twentyfour hours! so far i have no plans for tonight, the boyfriend is working.. i've decided if i don't go out with friends or something like that, i'll be cleaning out my closet (literally) in the bedroom. we're doing lots of that early on this year to start off clean, fresh, and organized!

you can read my previous little post about goals for 2012, here...somewhat related: my flickr paid account ran out just before christmas, so i'm no longer uploading as many photos there as i used to. this means i probably won't be partaking in quite as many flickr groups & swaps in 2012, which i'm slightly torn about. however, it does take away a bit of the pressure to create that perfect something. i will miss the inspiration, however i've been finding just as much, if not more, over at pinterest! ***UPDATE- a sweet, sweet internet friend purchased me a year of flickr!! thankyou, Corey!!! ♥

my blog entries for january may seem a bit sparse, as i'm hoping to take the month to get organized, plan, and photograph a lot of my process... i'm hoping to return in february in full force!!! (thats not to say i might not peep in every once in a while to post, and i'll definitely be reading my googlereader!) i have a stack about a mile high of fabrics, zippers, embroidery and quilting hoops, ribbons & trimmings, vintage quilt blocks, potato sacks, and vintage clothes pins that i will be turning into creative lovelies for my spring etsy line as soon as i possibly can. little packages of goodies have been coming all week in the mail, with a couple more on the way...

before i go, a quick look at my last hair style of 2011!!!

i had the boyfriend buzz my undercut on the right side... and yes, i'm partially back to brown! it feels weird, but i'm loving it.. this style was curled for christmas, but i've been normally wearing it down and flat ironed. its a funky and fun look to bring me into a new year, and a bit easier to maintain than all over bright color!

i hope that everyone has a safe and fun new year's celebration tonight, and that you're looking forward to 2012 as much as i am! do you have any resolutions? i'd love to hear them!! XO

big love, and see you next year!!! ;)

♥

happy 2012!!

2011-12-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

i promise a real post is on its way, but for now.... please take advantage of the etsy coupon code i currently have for my shop!!! maybe there is something you'd like for yourself, or do a little early birthday shopping for someone you love for 2012! i'm hoping to make some space for spring items i'll be working on very soon!!! XO

weekend wrap-up.

2011-12-18T20:22:00.000-05:00

{edited to add: there's a new blog banner for a new year... jumping the gun a bit to get a head start on the good changes for 2012! -- just one of the many many MANY changes occurring around here! :)}

well, after quite a bit of traveling and an emotionally challenging morning, we ended up spending a great day doing early family christmas with my dad's side at my aunt's house...

mom & i:

dad & i:

grandmother & i:

baby brother & i:

girl cousins!

despite the snafu this morning, which was caused by not enough sleep, not enough time, and not enough words....at home between the time i left the dogs/house, stopped at my apt to see the boyfriend & change, and meet my family... the day ended up being really good - comforting, as christmas with family should be. now that we're all older its quieter, calmer, and a bit slower. plus, its fun to talk with the girls about clothes, shoes, hair, etc etc etc.

back to the real world & work tomorrow. back to sleeping in my own bed. enjoying my christmas tree. the boyfriend starts his winter break from college, which means picking up extra work shifts in the evenings and working for the holidays - in the end it will be worth it, but still slightly hard to deal with. i won't see him until tuesday night when i'm done with work. since he'll be working tomorrow night, i'll take advantage of the "me" time - i have physical therapy after work and then i'm thinking about picking up a couple more last minute christmas gifts and stocking stuffers that got overlooked. because i may be insane and actually enjoy heading out into the crazy holiday shopping crowds!!

i hope to be able to update before christmas hits, but the posts may be few and far between until next monday (when i have the day off and can properly sit down to blog!).... i hope everyone has a lovely holiday if you celebrate - i've been really enjoying scrolling through all of my favorite blogs to catch up on everyone's recipes, stories of shopping and gifts, and photos. its fun to think we have our own little blogging family/community to celebrate alongside with. ♥

a weekend peek.

2011-12-17T15:53:00.001-05:00

i'm spending this weekend housesitting again, out in the countryside - which saw a healthy coating of snow early this morning. we hadn't had any snow since early this fall, a strange winter in maine. having spent nearly all of my winters in maine, there is something inexplicably comforting about a snowy morning. the dogs seemed to enjoy it as much as i did... {all photos in this post were taken in & around the house where i'm staying...}

the boyfriend didn't have to work last night, so he came out here a bit later than i did, to keep me company overnight. a quick dip in the hot tub, a quiet night in a very overcrowded bed. we got up this morning to make eggs, bacon, english muffins, coffee, tea, oj, grapefruit.. perfect. he had to leave afterwards to go to work, so the dogs and i have just been having a lazy afternoon on the couch with the woodstove burning.

tomorrow i'll be returning home for just a little bit in the morning to get ready to head north a bit to celebrate an early christmas with my family... usually we have our get together on christmas eve, but to keep things a little less busy, we're doing it a week early. all of my gifts are purchased and wrapped, and under our tree! there aren't any for me, yet, but i've got faith that the boyfriend will do his part soon enough. (he isn't quite as organized as i am! ;))

i'm very much looking foward to flying through the upcoming workweek to get to the holiday - i have a three day weekend (the monday after is the OR holiday)! lots of family, food, music, gifts.. of course, i'll only get to spend a small amount of it with the boyfriend, as he is working (and on new year's eve, too!!!), but i'm still excited. the holidays always make me nostalgic, with bing crosby singing old christmas songs, and all of the familiar sights and smells of family and food. i always get a little sad, missing my grandfather; and all of the little kids are all grown up. and a piece of me feels so humbled and a bit selfish when i think of all of those who go without nothing - at christmas and the rest of the year. i haven't yet decided where to make my charitable donation this year, last year and the year before i donated to the local animal shelter (where two of our three kitties came from). previous years, i donated to toys for tots. not a lot of extra money to go around this year, i really stretched every dollar i spent on gifts, but no matter how little we have i know its still more than some. every once in a while, its nice to put it into perspective. i have a big plan to do some more downsizing and weeding through drawers and closets after the holidays quiet down, to make a large goodwill donation. we always have things to spare.

i'm really anxious to start the new year.. i have lots of goals, ideas, plans... trying to stay grounded despite always feeling like i'm being tugged in numerous directions. but i like the feeling of being busy. i tend to do pretty well when i'm overwhelmed. 2012 will be a year of change for us, about halfway through, with a lot of work ahead. it'll all be about living life from a different perspective - really being courageous and being who you are.

one of the ladies in the OR saw me without my hat on one morning this week, and remarked, "you're such an enigma... just looking at you, no one would EVER think that you are the way you are... you're just you... and thats definitely a compliment." orange or multicolored hair, tattoos, a slightly strange fashion sense - i suppose a social stigma follows me wherever i go - no matter how i look, i'm still college educated, have lofty goals for myself & a keen business sense, i'm definitely more than what you see. its nice to finally be coming to terms with that.

♥

hope to see you here again soon,

don't forget!

2011-12-14T19:20:00.001-05:00

tomorrow (thursday, december 15th) is the last day i am guaranteeing christmas delivery for items purchased from my etsy shop! you can use the coupon code above at checkout to save even more off of the already marked down prices! :) i sold a few pillow covers at work this week, so you may not see some things you may have had your eye on.. get them while you can!!!

this is proving to be a bit of a crazy busy week, with even more crazy busyness to come for the weekend - i'll be house sitting as well as celebrating christmas with some family.... i promise i'll be back this weekend when i can! XOXO

weekend catch-up!

2011-12-11T18:05:00.001-05:00

okay,time for the little bits & pieces of the weekend.... :)

yesterday i got some awesome adorable mail. a few weeks back i had ordered some stickers from one of my favorite crafty/stylish ladies, charlavail. she is one of my favorite inspirations - a girl after my own heart with her business sense, creative cuteness, and killer everchanging hair. ♥ i was so excited to open these up. i kind of want to keep them all for myself, even though i bought them to put on xmas gifts! ;)

i also recently placed an order with nido, one of my new favorite fabric shops! they are located just a few states over in vermont, so shipping was incredibly quick! they were having a sale on some of their fabrics, so i got everything at a discounted price (nicer on my wallet this time of year). i know i shouldn't be buying things for myself at the holidays, but i plan on using these fabrics for spring items i'll be sewing up this winter! how can i not be inspired by all of those incredible colors and textures?!

meanwhile, i whipped up a few more custom zip pouches, the customer will be giving these as gifts this christmas... she asked for bright fun colors/prints, as they're for some funky young ladies. not a problem! ;)

i also did a little preliminary planning and stitching on some vintage quilt blocks that my mom had given me a while back - i wasn't sure what i would be doing with them, and originally thought i'd maybe keep them for myself.. but i've decided they'll go into some projects for my spring line. this winter is going to be full of cute sewing stuff... just you wait!

sewing room:

and don't be deceived by my productivity - this was actually a very sleepy weekend!

i'm still loving our holiday decorations, although a few borrowed things from my mom for our party have already come down... but we're still surrounded by some fun things, i'll be sad to see them go in a couple of weeks!

tree bokeh:

vintage three wise men, a gift from a friend:

simple wrappings....

and last but not least, i wore my favorite paramore tshirt today, and it made me giggle...

gotta love that orange! ;)

i just found out that the boyfriend has to work both christmas eve AND christmas day (i thought it was just eve...). bah humbug!!! luckily we will have a little time in the morning both days before he goes in, to exchange gifts and have breakfast. i m so lucky and thankful that i don't have to work holidays... i understand that the folks who do work holidays at the hospital are providing very important services for some people going through some awful things (especially this time of year!); but i will be so happy when he graduates and gets a job where holidays aren't mandatory. its so hard to feel like a family we he's absent from such important days! but, i'll be spending the rest of the day(s) with my parents and my brother.... but before that, i've got a work week ahead, and house sitting next weekend! only one more gift to shop for, too. everything else is ready!

♥

looking ahead....in 2012:

2011-12-10T23:03:00.001-05:00

i am going to challenge myself to keep track of one thing i am grateful for every day. probably in a small notebook, and then share a weekly list via my blog/facebook. i think sometimes there are days where it feels like not a single good thing happened, so i'm going to try to squeeze those tiny unseen things out. and of course, there are days where obvious amazing things happen, so it won't be so difficult. i'm excited to help keep things positive as much as possible coming into the new year and throughout.

i will be starting to give private basic quilting lessons locally. i have two friends who are already interested and ready to sign up. i'll be teaching a four lesson class to them, with the end result being a baby quilt. i will also be teaching my hexie class at alewives again, probably more than once (if you were unable to catch it the two times i taught it this year).

i hope to continue with my etsy shop. i can see my products changing a bit, i've already got some ideas in mind and some things already ready to sew! expect to find more zip purses, embroidery hoop fabric art, and vintage quilt block items! the gears are turning for a local spring fling/mother's day sale, as well.

i would like to continue on my social path. i've got a few local besties that i know i can count on to have a good time or simply sit and talk - something i know is much needed in my life. it seems that for a few years, recently, i lost track of that necessity; and i'm slowly regaining it. every girl has to have a best friend, aside from her boyfriend. {i went out tonight with one of my besties, and another coworker, to a couple of swanky bar/restaurants downtown - its unbelievable how long it had been since i'd been in that type of setting. being a non-drinker sometimes its hard to fit in, but i know i've found my niche. it feels good here.} i also am hoping to host a post-holiday girls only gathering, with tea, snacks, manicures, massages, and music. what better way to see friends, relax, de-stress, and reconnect? ...i also really need to be better about keeping in touch with my long-distance besties, too. you know who you are. :)

i'm mostly looking forward to the boyfriend's may graduation and eventual future job. i'm looking forward to seeing where our path takes us (figuratively and literally) - i'm anxious to know if we'll end up relocating or sticking close to home. our location will determine where/how/if/when i will be able to take business courses, and i am still setting a lofty goal of being able to open up my own fabrics & textiles boutique. (that will most likely carry me long into '13 and '14, but you've got to start somewhere!)

i think that the approaching year is going to be one of change, but not the scary kind. the kind that you know you've been waiting for, for a long time. the kind that you work hard for and deserve. i'm anticipating a lot of work, but also a lot of fun to balance it out. i generally don't make new year's resolutions, but i do try to create attainable goals for myself - mostly because i like to be super organized and it helps me to see what areas i need to work harder in. it seems as though '12 will probably also most likely include a yard sale, some minimizing, a lot of late nights, the continued lack of funds, and probably a good deal of stress - but the tolerable kind. i'm ready.

what are you hoping for coming into the new year, for yourself or your family? ♥

hair!

2011-12-10T12:09:00.001-05:00

anyone who has gray hairs or require a normal hair appointment at the salon to maintain their "look" will understand me when i say - hair maintenance is somewhat time consuming. i have gray hairs. quite a lot of them, actually. ontop of that, i have extremely dark hair normally (nearly black), so my roots grow in dark and fast. i've been dying my own hair for years, probably around fifteen years... i've been many colors, styles, and lengths. most of the time i cut my own hair, too (except when i go real short!). you may have seen recently that it was turquoise - one of my all time favorites! (its up on my blog banner if you missed it...) i loooove my hair blue or turquoise, but it is the hardest color to maintain. it gets green, and my roots look too dark. i finally hit my wall with turquoise this week, and started to strip it out little by little. lots of shampoo and a bit of hair bleach. for all of the processing i do, my hair is still incredibly healthy. i am either lucky, or smart. ;) anyway. i had wanted to go blonde for a bit, but was fighting too much with the awful light seafoam green color that the underside of my hair had turned. so, once i got it a bit lighter, i caved and got some colors. {blonde is too frustrating to me, its calling out for color, too much of a blank slate.} at almost 32, its hard to say how much longer i'll be able to pull off these fun colors (i hope i've got a couple more years left ;)), so for now i'm content with them. they're my signature, a piece of my personality, a little creative spark. my job in the OR means i have to wear a scrub cap for 8 hours, but everyone at work seems to love the fun i have with my hair. maybe something a little out of the norm. i guess i've never been one to stay within the box.

so, here was my hair this morning...

and this afternoon!

(i'm so jazzed that i was able to selvage the little peeks of blonde!)

i chose a color (orange - with a wee bit of yellow) that i hadn't done before.

i had red in my hand at the store, and then changed my mind last minute!

red seemed too festive this time of year ;)

but per usual, i don't feel any different walking around..

i don't even really remember what my hair looks like until i look in the mirror.

its comfortable. part of who i am.

and, as always, honey helped me every step of the way..

including comfy time aftewards ;)

(photo taken by the boyfriend)

so, some of you might be thinking: it looks kinda like hayely's (from paramore) hair! i guess i had to get my inspiration from somewhere. and lets face it, she has the best hair around!

Source: google.com via Kara on Pinterest

at any rate..

i'm headed out to dinner with one of my besties for her birthday tonight..

and doing lots of laundry.

tomorrow i'm hoping to whip up a few zip pouches for a cousin (xmas gifts for her to give!),

and maybe nap.... ♥

hope to see you by monday!

XOXOX