Craft-seller inspiration

One of my all time favorite magazines from the UK is http://www.cardmakingandpapercraft.com/magazine/craftseller  I happened to find a copy at a book store here in the states May 2012 issue and on the very front was Party bunting and celebrate British Crafts. Page 9 detailed how to make Union Jack Bunting. I created some of my own designs, and put together these pillows, for sale in my etsy shop (you can find the link to that on the side)

 Page 60 of the craft seller magazine!

I met my blog friend. "Louise and Janice take on NYC in the hurricane"

So late last year, while my husband was still out of work, I got to meet one of my blog world friends.   Scary you may think at first .. we met on the internet, blog world, flickr before Facebook.   She emailed me sometime last year around May.  She said she was coming to America to visit me.  At first I thought What??? is she crazy my husband is out of work and I don't even know if I will have a house by then, he a job? But then a little voice in my head said GO FOR IT! What do you have to lose?

In August I went to the Charlotte Airport and picked up Louise Stuart! www.isewacademy.com  It was quite an adventure, we hit it off right away! I just love to meet new people.

 I took her to my favorite place to eat in Charlotte.

 I took her to my favorite Starbucks.... In South Park mall

 And we went to NYC in the HURRICANE!

 SEE not one single person in the road in NYC they shut us DOWN!

Even Jesus closed the church...

although it was just a little rain where we were..

 Louise treated me to the best weekend in NYC At the Waldorf Astoria

 And here she is quaffing at the sign that said subway closed, no standing....

yes, this was closed too. the whole city was... for the impending storm.

I should mention should you meet someone on the blog world... a Earthquake, Hurricane and tornado probably will not all come the weeks they come visit you.. it just so happened that all happened within the two weeks she was here. Lucky us!:) It was amazing fun so if you happen to meet someone on the blog world, flickr, and share some likes... why not meet up?

Aprons

While my husband was unemployed I found a cute little shop in Flat Rock NC to feature some of my items. I was really nervous about asking people to have my things in their shop... but well It went something like this. 

I friend' ed a bunch of little places on FB asked them to check out my Madi Sweet and Sassy on FB and check out my etsy store to see if it was something they would have in their shop.  I got a few offers but most of the shops wanted rent PLUS a commission on my items. Seemed too risky for me.  I finally settled on a shop that charged 20% of what I would sell.  They did not sell a whole bunch of items but I did manage to snag a few followers and end up selling more on my Etsy store. I also got quite a few custom orders for aprons and such.  The next few photos represent some custom aprons, a pattern I came up with on my own and a pattern from my friend in Australia http://louisestuart.typepad.com/ she has this blog here and this Amazing APP here http://academyapps.com/

  this pattern I am attempting to make into a dress pattern for summer..

  i should have ironed this one first.. it is a Louise pattern

 my labels.

  another  pattern

  I loved the biker chick fabric on this one!! HOT

 who doesn't love betty Boop?

 pin up girl half apron.. why YES!

 my favorite toile apron!

  Perfect for the fall festival!

Enjoy the views please feel free to ask questions.

long boards! an Unemployment twist.

While my husband was out of work, we spent a good amount of our "dates" out at the book store. 

We happened to pick up a Make Magazine while we were there and it had several "crafty" unique ideas in it that I LOVED. Since he was unemployed we needed some Christmas gift ideas for our son. 

These are just some of the boards he made from the idea from Make Magazine http://makezine.com/

  I thought they were super fantastic and cost a little bit of money for father and son bonding! 

I love http://makezine.com/ for this!! just LOVE!

London Calling!

London calling anyone? 

 This funky beach bag was put together in one afternoon. 

Its all ready to take to the pool this summer. The handles I found in a drapery thrift store, used as tie backs. The fabric both outside and inside I also got in a thrift store, for 20.00 I still have 9 yards left of each. 

This will be truly a one of a kind pool bag for us! After all London has been calling me .....

A wonder of a new app.

 So those of you that Sew  will understand these next pictures..

These are my patterns, I never know what to do with them... once they are cut... at first I just wadded them back up... as folding them is next to rocket science for me...and stuffed them in a ziploc bag. Next I tried to organize them.. totally did not go well. Then, some that I use over and over..  I stuffed on the top shelf here.. that you see.. Just looking at this makes me ashamed.  I am usually such a neat freak, and this room I usually keep shut hidden from the world.. SHH 

I tired stuffing them in the drawers with samples of the fabrics I wanted to use on them... and as you can see that did not go well either.

SO when My darling Doppelganger in Australia: Louise Stuart

( thats a picture of my twin when she came to America....) of  http://www.louisestuart.typepad.com

came up with this new app, for the IPAD http://academyapps.com I thought BRILLIANT! 

& the ring of roses

iSewAcademy

PROFESSOR Darcy

HERE IS AN APP WITH PATTERNS THAT FIT IN MY IPAD, Patterns you can download

 for $0.99  -$5.00  and keep and print and store!!! I thought DEAR ME CAN IT BE SO SIMPLE!???? and yes,  yes it is.

http://academyapps.com/rs/7/sites/1102/user_uploads/File/iSew_ring%20of%20roses_LR.pdf

In addition to the App there are also a ton of free CUTE things to make on the website to http://academyapps.com http://academyapps.com

GET ON OVER THERE AND CHECK IT OUT!