Day 3 without toddler...

This has certainly been an eventful day! I got my rainbow batik quilt finished and I started and finished four small sensory/security blankets, plus I made a Etsy treasury to showcase fun fall finds from the Florida Etsy Street Team. It's amazing what I can get done when I don't worry about cleaning (you should see my house, it's like a fabric store vomited in my living room).

Anyway, my first picture is to show off my rainbow quilt... I love it!!! I picked out a bunch of fun batiks and created a nice melting effect -- the colors all seem to melt into one another. When you look at it, try to find some neat images (like a turtle) in the batiks. I couldn't find anything nice to make a border out of, so I just matched it with some natural cotton batting and a wonderfully soft cream fleece. It's perfect for the upcoming fall season.

The next four are our sensory security blankets -- they're some of the most popular items at our craft fairs. They have a variety of textures to stimulate baby's sense of touch and a little ribbon that allows you to clip the blanket to your stroller so you don't lose it. They aren't the best pictures (so sue me), but the blankets came out fantastic. The first one is a brown and pink paisley satin with plush pink minky, dark brown swirl fur and brown dot minky backed by pink chenille. Then we have a "jungle theme" with blue satin, blue chenille, and cream minky dot backed by green minky. My personal favorite is the "ABC" themed blanket with red minky dot, dark blue satin, white line minky and backed by the light blue chenille. Lastly is our baby sensory blanket because we only had a small scrap of the pink paisley left and I didn't want to waste it, it's a few inches smaller than the others but still just as cute! It's made with pink satin, plush pink minky and dark pink minky dot on the front and it's backed with pink chenille.

I'll be posting a few of these in our Etsy store soon... Keep an eye out because I'll also be having a contest and the winner will win a SUPER FANTASTIC Halloween-themed Florida Etsy Street Team Art pack (retails for $10 but valued at over $30!!).

:)

Jen

I got a Treasury!

For those of you not familiar to Etsy (a wonderful handmade site that showcases some of the best handmade creations from around the globe), they have something called a "Treasury." It's where you can pick your favorite items to showcase to buyers and other Etsy visitors free of charge. They're notoriously tricky to get, but I have gotten TWO in the past week! Wowza.

I'm really proud of this treasury -- it's titled "Fall into Fabulous FEST" and features some *beautiful* fall-themed items. I'm probably partial to this treasury because it's filled with fall items and fall is my favorite season (too bad we don't actually get a fall in Orlando, lol). It's full of pumpkins and the colors of fall (primarily orange and brown) and it's fantastic. Super fantastic, in fact.

Please go ahead and view my treasury, click on the items and explore the shops... the Florida Etsy Street Team is a team of fantastic individuals who are supremely talented :)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=5658

Leave a comment and click till your heart's content. :)

Love ya,

Jen

Day 2 without toddler...

I still miss him but at least I know he's having a blast with Grandma and Grandpa at Disney World. This morning he got to eat breakfast with his all-time favorite chick (Mommy is a different category, in case you're wondering) -- Snow White. Reports from my parents indicate he was so in shock that he didn't say a word to her when she talked to him... he just stared in awe. Funny thing is that he's never seen the movie, I've just read him the book... but he loves her all the same.

It comforts me to know he's enjoying himself, but it also makes me happy to hear a little voice on the phone go "Hi mommy!! I miss you..." :).

Anyway, I'm in the middle of redesigning my living room... Not changing the color or anything, but updating the drapes and adding a new picture to the wall (perhaps a few new pillows) and I'm so excited because I just finished my first-ever fully-lined drapery panel!!! YAY! I went out and bought some really beautiful black wooden sconces and finials for a drapery rod because I think these drapes came out fantastic. A long time ago (about... 6 years?) I purchased 10 yards of real dupioni silk on Ebay for $100 -- it was an amazing deal -- and it's sat in my closet because I haven't found anything to really do with it. I had black velvet curtains up there before but I'm trying to tie my new kitchen in with my living room (I repainted the kitchen last year in cream, brown and red), so I wanted red drapes and viola, a reason to use my silk. I still have three panels to go, but the first one came out amazingly well.

I purchased heavy-weight white drapery lining at around $3 a yard, so for around $150 (including tax and thread), I'll have four wide-length, lined 84" drapery panels. I just saw Bed, Bath and Beyond is selling essentially the same drapes I am making for a whopping $100 a piece. I love being able to sew. Seriously.

Also this morning I finished the quilt you all saw in yesterday's post. It took me wayyyyy longer than I thought it would because that's the way I roll.

First, it started with the thought:

I really want to put a bird applique in the center... Let me look online for good pictures of a dove.

So online I went... I found a good picture, made a drawing based off the photograph and decided I didn't like the way the dove was hunched over... so I went and found one of a dove standing straight up. This is what came out:

Once I had the bird drawn, I went to cut out an applique shape. This was a little more difficult than usual since I am out of iron-on backing, but I managed to do it. I sewed it on to the blanket (making one huge mistake -- my foot tension was on 1 because I sewed minky for the back earlier, so my stitches are sloppy... can you tell?) and had the next thought:

Hmmmm... I have to find a nice way to outline the wings and the eyes... I should embroider it...

Which then lead to me embroidering the dove and the branch it was standing on... an hour later I finally had that done and I could actually sew the back on. I made the back out of 12" strips of two different minkys (pink star and blue dot) and two heavy-weight chenilles (16 oz cream and brown) -- I think the effect rocks! Yay!! What do you guys think? The quilt is done except for the hand-tying and the fact I have to close the small opening.

Now moving on to my next quilt -- a batik rainbow :) :)...

Comment away, guys, and let me know what you think!!!!

Day 1 without toddler...

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My son is staying with my parents over at Disney World -- they like to RV and wanted to take him for some quality time... I agreed after a little thought (hey, at least I didn't jump up and down and go YESSSS!!!!). This probably wasn't the best idea seeing as I call my parent's home the "land of do as you please" because they let him eat whatever he wants and don't actually discipline him when he misbehaves.

I miss him something terrible -- I can't even go past his room because it makes me sad :(.

I have, however, managed to get quite a bit done with my sewing. I finished up a few more onesies, now all that's left is the hand-embroidery... I started and finished a beautiful blanket using Joel Dewberry's Aviary line (in the almond/brown/orange color)... and I started and finished the entire front side of a quilt... It might not sound like much, but you try and cut out 72 squares, two different borders, form a nice pattern, piece them together and sew in a few hours. I still have to back the quilt and sew the opening to the JD blanket, but that shouldn't take me too horridly long. They're both going to be thicker blankets, with batting inside, for the upcoming fall/winter season.

Here's the JD blanket -- I love how the oranges and browns capture the fall season... it's filled with 100% all-natural cotton batting and is backed with some of the heaviest weight (16 oz!!!), designer chocolate brown chenille I could find. All three fabrics are from Joel Dewberry's Aviary line and they look simply fabulous together. This is an awesome blanket for fall.



This next one is the quilt front. I still haven't decided what I'm going to back it with -- it'll either be minky or flannel... I'm also tempted to do a cute bird or flower applique in the center, where the same four purple flowered fabrics are because I'm going to make an applique out of the paisley fabric for a onesie.... I just can't decide which one :). I love the colors in this, it's so fantastic for a little girl. A little bit of femininity with the muted colors and fabric designs and a little bit of modern funk with the multi-colored paisley around the border. I call it my "I'm a funky angel" quilt and I can't wait to finish it. It's not terribly large, but it is sizeable -- about 44" square. A good size for a toddler's blanket or a crib decoration.

Anyway, after my recent fabric-buying binge, I've decided to put myself on a supply restriction for all of September and October. I have to keep my purchases under $20 per month for those two months so I can use up enough of the fabric I have on hand. I have boxes... Seriously. To keep myself to it, I'm going to keep this blog updated with my purchases and how much I've spent. Maybe being accountable to the blogosphere will keep me from reaching for my debit card.

Oh man, I love my fellow FESTersand Etsyians :) :)

Ok, so I'm seriously on a buying kick lately. I'm buying for gifts, buying for surprises and simply buying for myself. I'm eyeing a huge picture for my living room, I've already purchased a few soaps from LaveMeSoapCo (http://lavemesoapco.etsy.com) and a few embroidered items from AuntiFranni (http://auntifranni.etsy.com)...

But the best of the best (sorry, Franni) are the things that NothingLikeIt (http://nothinglikeit.etsy.com) is making for myself and my family.

It all started out innocently enough... "Hey, I like her Corky elf coaster and the Rudolph coffee mug... that'd make a great gift for my MiL" ... then it became "Hey, I'd like a set for myself." ... then I wondered "Hey, I wonder if she could make me a Great Dane coaster for my mom and dad" ... *then* it became "Hey, I'd like a coaster for year-round use... I wonder if she could make a cool thing like Lord Voldemort, the Joker or Darth Vader.." Seriously, it's spiralled way, way out of control... and I'm LOVING it. She's done the doggie coaster and I love it -- you should check out the pictures on her blog -- and she's working on Darth Vader.

I can't wait. Seriously. I do feel bad, though, because I feel like I'm usurping all her time... then again, I will pay her ;).

Anyway, check out all three shops. They really are fantastic shops, fantastic people and amazing crafters/artists.

Jen

Alligators, Snakes and Mosquitoes -- Oh MY!

Just in case you weren't aware, we in Central Florida are being inundated. Snakes, alligators, fire ants, mosquitoes -- all things that are standard Florida fare have morphed into ridiculous problems. A man died yesterday because fire ants floated into his Seminole county home and stung him into anaphylactic shock -- bet you didn't know that fire ants count swim, huh? National Guardsmen are watching alligators float down state roads (!!) and snakes are having field days... apparently even the squirrels and rabbits are angry.

But the worst, the worst of the worst, are the damn mosquitoes. I'm literally a captive in my home. It doesn't matter what time of day I go out, even 2 pm in the hottest sun of the day, I get swarmed by about 25 mosquitoes. They swarm in my home, in my porch, and now we're even fighting them off on the inside. I hate them. Where is Orange County? Why aren't they spraying for mosquitoes -- we're drowning in them out here. Thank god all my animals are on Heartgard because my poor puppy has about 100 mosquito bites on her back... when this is all said and done we'll be lucky if we have any blood left. I haven't even gone jogging in a week -- so much for running a 10K this weekend... I'm lucky if I can finish my 5K in 30 minutes.

Argh!

Well, thankfully, being stuck inside does have a mini silver lining. I've cleaned my house from top to bottom, read my son about 1.3 million books (well... not different books, just the same damn ones over and over again until I can recite them by heart...) and worked on stuff for the business. Sometimes it's really tough to get anything done since my entire work station is a small, old computer desk sitting in the middle of my already-crowded office. I can't just shut the door in the evenings when Mr. Made By Moms is playing with our son. Anyway, I've actually overcome the house and the toddler enough to do some actual work! WOO HOO!!! My sewing tends to go in trends -- one week I'll sew all blankets, the next all bibs... I call this period my "onesie opus"

I've recently fallen in love with Joel Dewberry and his Aviary line -- especially the almond/orange/brown. I've made up a onesie and I'll be adding blankets, pillows and even a bib to the line, so look out for that. This onesie is done... I'm thinking about trying to find brown onesies, but even the bulk outlets because of the sheer number of onesies I'm working on.don't seem to have a nice shade of chocolate brown... I'll keep looking because a long-sleeved brown onesie or infant shirt would look FAB with this fabric.

I'm also working on holiday onesies... I've included a few work-in- progress ones... The candy canes are done in white felt, hand painted with red paint and stitched with a silver metallic thread. They are ADORABLE. The pumpkin and reindeer will be finished by hand embroidering around the outside and filling in some details on the inside. I can't wait to add the ornaments dangling from the reindeer's antlers!!! The pumpkin was a little difficult to do because I cut out individual ovals to create the ridges and getting them all to fit together nicely has been a chore... but I think it's turned out very cute -- perfect for the fall season. In addition to these, I'm working on an adorable ghost (my favorite, right before the reindeer) and a gift-wrapped present. I might even add some mistletoe to my list, but I'm not sure if that's Christmas overload.

Last but not least, I'm making political onesies to go with my bibs!!! A donkey and elephant made in red, white and blue felt, stitched with red and blue thread and then hand-embroidered with white thread as a finishing touch. They'll be AWESOME for the election year and even after (when you want to show which pony you backed!!). I'm even thinking about embroidering Obama and McCain's names on there (perhaps even "NObama" as one of my friends says).


Thanks so much to everyone for reading my blog! It's been fantastic growing our business and trying to get it off its feet. We just sold a hand-embroidered quilt on Etsy and we're looking forward to more purchases in the future!!!

Thank you, also, to all the members of Etsy FEST and the Orlando Arts Team for being wondrously supportive and fantastic people. I can't wait to meet you all!

Why I hate rural living....

Ok, so seriously, someone help a sister out here.

Look at these pictures and tell me...

Is it Lyme Disease or is it ringworm? ARGH!

Let me give you some background...

Today I was doing a bit of gardening -- we received something like 15 inches of rain from Fay and I wanted to try and help my beleaguered garden out by weeding a bit and draining some water away from the beds. I went to brush some water from my face (raining again!) and brushed my left arm with my dirty glove. I felt a small sting and scratched my arm when I noticed a small rash with what appeared to be two small bite marks inside. I assumed I had gotten bitten by something -- spider, bug, whatever -- because I was digging around in mud. I went inside, washed it off, put Neosporin on it and covered it with a bandaid.

Later, Shannon told me he thought it might be ringworm because of its semi-circular shape and raised appearance. .. but it's not itchy and it's not in a place normally associated with ringworm. Plus, I've heard that ringworm glows green in black light and this does not glow green.

Once I did the black light test, I went on the internet to find ringworm look-a-likes... and viola... Lyme Disease. I have had recurrent headaches, chills and stiff neck pain for the past three or four days, but I passed it off to sleeping poorly for the past week or so.

So, what is it? Lyme Disease? Ringworm? Neither?

HELP!

Jen