Because I'm Me

Mini Buntings for Smaller Spaces

2026-05-15T08:30:00.001-04:00

A good hanging bunting banner is such a cheery addition to a holiday theme or party. These MINI buntings are perfect to hang from a shelf or on a wall behind a seasonal display.

Each triangle measures 3" across and 4" tall and the 12 pennants in each bunting take about 5' of space, then each has 2' of white tie on each end.

I've carried these at markets for years and recently sold out of all I had on hand. When restocking I decided to add more holidays because more holidays = more fun. After making enough for six holiday (six holidays X nine of each X twelve triangles ... a lot of little triangles) I did decide to circle around later to make spring, Easter, summer, and celebration ... are there any others I should add to the list?

The Etsy shop, and all upcoming in person markets, will have these in stock until they run out. Clicking on each image will take you to it's Etsy listing.

Squeeze the Day :)

2026-05-13T09:00:00.001-04:00

Another apron has been added to the shop. This sweet lemony apron is so tropical and sweet, and even the pocket is made from a lemon print!

Find it here!

Aprons for the Kiddos

2026-05-11T08:00:00.001-04:00

Once upon a time when my kids were little I made them aprons. Those aprons are still here, now used by the grandsons. River also wore them, but he's now over 6' tall so has officially outgrown them.

Last year when Joann's went out of business I grabbed all the duck cloth I could get my hands on (to be more specific, I grabbed all the cotton fabrics I could get my hands on - especially the last few days when the fabric was practically being given away!) specifically to make kids aprons from. And make aprons I did! And then I photographed the aprons to list on Etsy and proceeded to sell out of most of the fabric before I got them listed. That's a happy problem to have. :)

I have found a few new fabric sources and am looking for more, and am now very consistently sewing and selling children's aprons at markets. And now is a perfect time to get more listed.

The aprons fit ages 2 to at least 12, and are machine washable and they're great not only in the kitchen but also for woodworking, art, chores, and so much more. This particular print is a little more girly with the flowers and purple, but I do have many that are more boyish/neutral.

This farm animal apron can be found here.

My kids with their aprons, made from mens button down shirts:

the 250th is coming soon!

2026-05-08T12:32:00.000-04:00

Unlike most people I clearly remember the Independence Day Bicentennial celebration in 1976 (yes, I'm that old). And now we're celebrating the 250th!

I've added this wonderful decorative 10" wide pillow to the Etsy shop, it's almost identical to my 7" pillow and the two complement each other perfectly.

I'm on a short break from markets so getting the shops filled and lots and lots of fall and winter items ready for season, so keeping checking the Jude Harbor and Because I'm Me shops for new "must haves".

Quick foster update, since I haven't mentioned that in years (side effect of not posting much in years). I now have two darling toddlers in my care. Both are 17 months old - they're not twins but are four days apart, so it's like having twins. And both are amazing. I have to admit that I do a horrible job keeping up with pictures of them since most of the time I'm holding at least one of them ... but if I am able to get a nice picture I'll share it. :)

2025-07-09T10:51:00.002-04:00

Keeping It Simple

2025-06-26T09:30:00.001-04:00

While I absolutely love baby bibs with fun prints and designs, sometimes I really love my baby's outfit more and want to show that off. I needed simpler "coordinate with everything" bibs for him ... so I made some. And they're now some of my favorites for him.

So I made more, because of course I want to share. :) White eyelet, green gingham, black gingham, tan linen, and blue linen can all be found at JudeHarbor.com and in the Etsy shop.

Scalloped Bibs

2025-06-19T13:32:00.001-04:00

Oh my gosh, I saw the cutest pattern for these and had to make some! They've been a great seller at local markets, and it's easy to see why.

Both the watercolor palm trees and the floral/plaid bibs are available in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop.

Scrunchie Style Dog Bandanas

2025-06-13T13:33:00.000-04:00

As is often the case, I saw one of these somewhere and thought they'd be fun to make. So I made some. And they were not fun to make. They took forever and did not look good. In fact, the first ones looked BAD.

So I walked away and while on my way to get the baby from daycare I thought up a solution. Got back home and tried again. Meh. Somewhat better, still super time consuming and the finished look wasn't consistent.

Slept on it. And come up with a new solution and now I'm happy with them. I did put one on Lucy, the cat, to see how it looked and it's a winner (she does not agree, however).

The fish/oranges and bones/rainbows are available in the shop. The others will be available at markets.

And if you're taking on this little project - I'm no expert but I'm happy to share what I've learned and what worked for me. :)

Out to Sea

2025-06-12T13:18:00.001-04:00

I had so much fun designing and appliqueing this quilt.

I had many already made blocks for Lori Holt's Bee In My Bonnet Granny's Garden Sew Along Quilt and then had a handful of the background circles all ready to be used. I opted to make a quilt with the Granny's Garden blocks and then a similar, but more masculine, second quilt. The quilt with the Granny's Garden blocks was claimed by my sister immediately, so much so that I didn't have time to get many pictures of it! I now introduce the more masculine version of this quilt, still using Lori Holt fabrics but differently.

Instead of following the same applique technique in the first quilt I did raw edge blanket stitch applique on this one. The eyes of the whale and fish are circles of Minky, and the mast of one of the boats is a satin ribbon.

The backside is pieced from six fat quarters.

You'll find this quilt in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop.

Succulant and Desert Cacti Love

2025-06-04T11:10:00.001-04:00

First, I love this cream succulent/cacti fabric that this quilt was created around.

Second, my grass looks like crap. We're experiencing the driest winter in many years and it shows. Lakes are low, even the Everglades is extra dry in some areas, and fire risk is high. It has been raining a little bit this week though, with more rain in the forecast, so hopefully we're on the way back to normal. In the grand scheme of anything my grass in super unimportant and only bothers me when I'm trying to take quilt photos ...

Back to the girly little patchwork quilt, when I got this fabric I knew exactly what I was going to make from it. And I couldn't be happier with the results. The green, pink, and blue fabrics tie it together so well and the tan linen is so pleasing and calm.

Available in both my stand-alone shop and Etsy shop.

Stars and Stripes Swag for Summer

2025-06-03T15:12:00.004-04:00

This little decorative "pillow" bowl filler or shelf sitter above has been my best seller the last few months - both online and at markets.

She's super small, just 5" by 7", but she makes some pretty awesome home decor.

I carry these pillows year round at markets, as long as I have space for them, and they do sell year round.

Sister mini "pillows". Both the single star and ring of 13 stars are available in the Etsy shop too.

And some fun decorative stars - they're available on stands, as bowl filler, or with red twine to hang.

These fun patriotic decor pieces and more can be found in the Etsy shop.

Fishy Sushi Cat Bow Tie

2025-06-02T10:50:00.001-04:00

Sushi + Cat = Adorable

This fun bow tie and collar is now in the shop!

Jelly Roll Quilts

2025-05-30T11:48:00.001-04:00

These quilts were crafted from a few "jelly rolls" I was given, using a pattern I was also given.

Super quick and easy and the end result is amazing! I did add in the borders to add some calm to the quilt, I'm a border/sashing fanatic, especially when I can involve white.

These beauties are in the Etsy shop here and here.

Meow .... Pretty Cat Goodness

2025-05-29T10:21:00.006-04:00

Cat bow ties, of course. :)

If your cat will wear a collar he/she will easily wear a bow tie, as it's just attached to a cat collar (made with a breakaway clasp for safety!).

If your cat isn't used to a collar it may take a bit to get used to it - usually a couple days. Our cat Hippo would wear a collar and bow tie without any complaints. Lucy, on the other hand, will run and hide as soon as it's put on her. She's actually getting better about it as long as lots of treats are involved, but for these ties you'll just have to imagine they're on a cat.

I have to say ... cat bow ties are great conversation starters at markets, always good for a fun chat with shoppers.

Bow cat bow ties are here, cat cat bow ties are here.

Lake Life

2025-05-28T09:47:00.005-04:00

A sweet whole cloth quilt with gentle wavy quilting (a favorite go-to of mine).

I picture this in a lakeside cottage or summer home, or a home that lends itself to that light and airy summer vibe. Maybe a wall hanging in a casual living room or child's room. Or a floor mat for baby. Or ... ?

It's in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop waiting for a new home.

She Actually Does Sew Quilts

2025-05-27T14:40:00.004-04:00

It has been far too long, but I've finally found time to make some quilts. And I dusted off the long arm quilter for some of them. I'm feeling very satisfied with myself, and can't wait to make more, more, more.

Here's the first of the finished quilts -

It can be found in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop here.

Simple pattern, but taken up a notch by turning the blocks on-point.

Many of the fabrics come from Lori Holt collections, some others I'm not as sure of the origins. My mother had a friend who could no longer sew and asked if I wanted some of her fabrics. Um, YES! And that's how I inhered two file boxes jam packed with mostly wonderful Lori Holt fabrics (and a few others being used for upcoming projects). I've had so much fun with these new fabrics (and don't get me started on the fabrics I picked up at some great prices at Joann over the last month - I've had to add many, many long shelves to the sewing room to accommodate that haul).

In other, even more wonderful news, I got a call at the beginning of December asking if I'd care for a newborn baby when he got out of the NICU. Um, YES, yes, yes! He's been with us for almost six months now and is a joy. We're head over heals in love with him and are very blessed to have him in our company.

I Heart You

2024-10-25T00:04:00.005-04:00

I'm OBSESSED with making cute little things. OBSESSED. Not even an understatement.

It all started with a few things to sell at a spring market ... now the little bits of cuteness are my biggest sellers at markets.

I'll share the Christmas holiday trees and ornaments very soon, but I finished these Valentine hearts recently and couldn't help but post about them. And they're mostly red, so definitely could be coordinated with Christmasy things.

The mini pillows are about 6.5" wide and 4.5" tall, crafted from a linen-look cotton and finished with raw edges, so they'll fray wonderfully.

The two heart pillow has two appliqued hearts and is finished with an htv vinyl black running stitch and bows.

The single heart pillow is a quilted red plaid heart appliqued to the small pillow.

The bowl filler hearts are also finished with raw edges for perfect vintage-inspired yumminess. They'll fray wonderfully and can be trimmed or not. They're great bowl or centerpiece fillers and come in either small (4" tall) or large (4.75" tall).

Both the quilt heart and 2-hearts mini pillows and the hearts are available in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop. The pillows are $7 and the hearts are $3 and $4. Honestly, the shipping is enough (thanks USPS) that I highly recommend spending $35 (can be on anything in the shop) and getting free shipping.

Christmas is Coming!

2024-10-15T13:59:00.003-04:00

I had the pleasure of recruiting one of my favorite pets to model for me today.

Ellie, my oldest daughters dog, is a perfect model (and a pretty perfect pup), and was super accommodating and adaptive today.

Today she's modeling some new bandana prints in our reversible cotton bandannas, this time for Christmas. I sell bandanas at markets and they are quite popular, but these are the first I've listed in the Etsy shop (more to come!).

Choose from either plaid with candy canes or plaid with holly and berries.

These bandanas are self-tying, like a traditional bandana, are are fully reversible. They can be worn rolled so both sides show, or not rolled so one side is the sole focus.

All my bandanas are crafted from 100% cotton fabric, are super durable, and are machine washable.

This is not Ellie. Or my cat, Lucy (I tried, she wasn't in the mood today.). I forgot to get pictures of Ellie in the holly and berry print so had to improvise.

Ellie is wearing a medium size bandana, stuffed dog is wearing a small bandana.

It's a Dog's World

2024-05-09T22:31:00.002-04:00

Two of my granddogs, Ellie and Tully

For the last several years I've been selling dog bow ties (along with cat and people bow ties) at local markets. I also sell dog bandanas, but I haven't yet listed those online anywhere yet we'll just forget I mentioned that.

Finally, finally, finally they're listed in the shop too. It has been a long time coming and I'm super excited.

The bow ties have a velcro piece in the back to attach to the dog collar. And they come in three sizes - Small, Medium, and Large. AND dog bow ties are not just for the boys, girl dogs look pretty terrific in them too.

A quick click on each image will take you to the Etsy shop listing.

All dog bow ties can be found by clicking here.

New New New

2024-05-08T14:40:00.000-04:00

I'm kind of hooked on these little flags.

Really, all things 4th of July are doing it for me right now.

Be prepared for some some super fun Independence Day themed throw pillows coming very soon. I haven't quite figured out my throw pillow plan, but I do know it has a lot to do with some postage stamp quilted stars (God bless anyone who does a postage stamp quilt ... those tiny pieces take forever to make into something of a reasonable size!).

And dog and cat bow ties. And, as always, I have more ideas than time. No surprise there. :)

The pillows can be found in the Jude Harbor etsy shop, one star here and thirteen star here.

Update and New Items

2024-03-26T13:00:00.005-04:00

Two years is a really long time not to post. I had the best of intentions too!

I do have an excuse though, I really do, aside from blogging no longer being an in thing. As my kids have grown up and gotten older (they range in age from 15 to 30 now ... I have no idea how that happened) they've started moving out and being all adulty. I love it, I really do, I'm amazed at the awesome people they've all become and I love interacting with them on a whole different level (they're all really, really cool and each is so unique). As they've left the nest the house has started to feel big, I've had empty bedrooms in this house that raised six children. I turned one bedroom into my sewing room.

As I looked at the remaining empty bedroom I realized it was finally time to embark on a new adventure - foster parenting. It had always been in the back of my mind as something I wanted to do but the timing was never right. Until now. 2 1/2 years ago I began the process to become a foster parent and two years ago, right after my last post, I accepted my first foster child, a wonderful energetic 15 month old boy named Aaron. About a month later I accepted a 5 week old little girl, Annie. My foster son stayed with me for about 10 months and my little girl was with me for almost 23 months, she headed home just over 2 weeks ago the day after she turned two.

I'm now taking a break from fostering, I'm not sure for how long - it's going to be a while before the hurt of Annie's departure heals. I'm staying busy now sewing and trying to catch up on everything (yard work, yikes!) that I didn't stay on top of the last two years.

The stars have been listed in the Jude Harbor Etsy shop. There are more new listings to come. I've been doing local and not-too-far-away markets with so, so much new stuff - now it's time to get it online too.

Springing into Easter

2022-03-08T13:48:00.004-05:00

Oh my gosh, I didn't mean to disappear for months again.

Over the last few months I've been focusing on in-person events and shows, mostly building inventory and getting my 10' by 10' booth "just right". I never, in my wildest imagination, could have grasped how much time and energy and money could go into such a small space! Of course, it's still not exactly right and I'm guessing the reality is that it will never be perfect, but it's getting better. If you follow Because I'm Me on Facebook or Instagram you've probably seen many booth pictures, and also many pictures of products I'm selling face-to-face that aren't available online. I'm working on bringing more of those products to the shop - hopefully more very soon, but if you're interested in something you see just message me. Oh, also follow the Facebook page for locations of upcoming events.

So here I am with some new bow ties, just added to the shop.

These fun bow ties are available with the added Easter bunny or chick for both adults and kids. And cats, each bow tie comes with it's own collar with breakaway clasp. And .... our first bow ties in the shop for dogs! The dog bow ties have a velcro closure and they simply attach to your pup's collar ... easy peasy.

The gingham and dot bow ties can be happily mixed and matched with these large-scale gingham print bow ties, in pink, green, and soft blue. These fun bow ties are also available for adults, kids, cats, and dogs.

Fall Keychains In the Shop

2021-11-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

As we approached fall market season, and after spending a minute in the grocery store where the world suddenly resolved around pumpkin everything, I thought it'd be fun to make some fall-themed keychains.

Of course, once made it made sense to add them to the online shops too. So I did.

These are so fun, and kind of make me forget I'm in Florida where it still reaches 90' most days.

These keychains, and more, can be found in the Jude Harbor stand alone shop and Etsy shop.

Happy fall, y'all!

Floral Whole Cloth Quilt

2021-10-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1068612444/baby-girls-floral-quilt-whole-cloth

Another new whole cloth quilt. This one is just so sweet and soft for a little girl.

Y'all - this fabric is from Hobby Lobby and I love everything about it. Hobby Lobby isn't always my first go-to for fabric, but they've got some great finds at really good prices (I've been told their fabric is 30% off every other week, I'm not sure if that's true - I just check the website before going in).

Priced at just $79 this quilt will sell very quickly! You can find it in the Jude Harbor shop and the Etsy shop.

Boho Planty Goodness

2021-10-22T09:00:00.001-04:00

While I love, love, love piecing quilt tops and the whole quilting process I thought it'd be fun to try making some whole cloth quilts with some fantastic fabrics I found (at Hobby Lobby).

This is the first quilt made - boho plants and flowers on two coordinating shades of pinkish coral. I quilted it with loopy swirls, a favorite of mine, and the binding is a fabric I had in my stash.

The time saved not piecing the top allows this quilt to be priced lower - just $59 for a 35" by 42" quilt.

Available here.

So will I give up piecing quilts for whole cloth quilts? No way, but it's fun to add something new to the repertoire.