Celebrating two years

Here's the flyer announcing the upcoming boutique and celebration I'm having on December 5th. Two years in this tough economy is a good reason to celebrate and I look forward to taking my business to the next level now that the seed has begun to grow!

Hope to see you then, and I promise really great handmade treasures from six local designers and I, too am making up a bunch of fun stuff including some new ideas that just kicked me in the head, now being stitched up into fabulous accessories for you and you home!

So--what's new at Sew Joe? I have hundreds of new and irresistible buttons in, I got more beads that are very cool and versatile, and 'Smooshies' for your kids. Don't worry, you're not out of the loop, Smooshies are kinda new. They are soft and cuddly bodies of creatures, and their parts (eyes, lips, wings, arms & legs) are separately placed wherever your little one wants to put them--they stick on with soft velcro. It's sort of like a cushy cuddly 'Mr. Potato Head' with lots of personality. For $12.99, your little toddler will keep busy at home or on that holiday car trip.

If you missed my home page, check it out. I have many projects ready to be made by you and take them home wrapped in pretty paper. Don't mess up your space, stop in the studio and make a bunch of holiday gifts right here with lotsa love and little moola.

Flea Market Fun

6" platforms--very tempting!

This recent fabulous Sunday in southern California took family, friends and me to the Rose Bowl flea market. People-watching was at it's finest! And I managed to actually entertain my two otherwise non-plussed teenagers by getting into a shouting match with some paranoid vendor who thought DH was taking a photo of "her artwork", when it was I who was the subject of his shutter, not her booth in the background. Wake-up lady, you're not the first person to melt glass--I can google this craft if I was even interested in making more stuff for my dust rag to collect. (unplanned rant over.)

It was quite entertaining watching our friend's 13-yr. old son perusing the massive number of vendors who had motorcycle jackets to offer. Priced from $20 to $200, hubby and I were both impressed at Zane's diligence, persistence and finally finding the one perfect black leather jacket in that massive collection of sellers that fit his body and wallet. $25 bucks and he was smiling with the look of satisfaction that we adults recognized as 'mission accomplished'.

Wonderful junque, collectibles and clothing were in every nook and cranny of that Pasadena parking lot. It's interesting that the word 'vintage' is as common among sellers as the word 'organic' is the buzz word in the supermarkets. Does anyone feel like I do on this, like, show me some proof. How do I know that linen you cut up and stitched into a new pillow is vintage? Oh well, guess I'm ready for a new gotta have it fad to surface.

Anyway, there where hundreds of hopeful sellers who work way too hard for that elusive buck. Some of those booths, triple-wide mind you, looked like a full-on boutique that took many hours just to set up. Wow! I decided to get back to my store on Monday and kick some you know what. I was inspired. And I, too, felt a small sense of accomplishment when I found a few small vessels that I will be turning into fabulous little pin cushions--I'll show you those later, so . . .

Ciao for now,

Jeanie

Hi to all:

--Check out this 'before' and 'after' picture of my new addiction: barstools! A good friend gave me these vintage 60's gems and I had them recovered in this great turquoise vinyl that looks like tooled leather. What fun they are and those oldies really are goodies, as in comfort and built strong. I have them here in my store so they're great for just sitting making patterns or doing some hand sewing. They're best when a friend drops in and we can just have a quick chat. I'm looking for three more cool stools for my kitchen that I can reupholster. Stop in and take a look--I'm also making some great handbags out of this textile! I also have some metallic vinyl in bright colors, this is fun stuff!

It's been quite a while since I've blogged, my days and hours have just slipped away, filling me with distractions and gotta get this and that done now. Whew!

So during these past few months that I have not blogged, I can recap. I have easily sewn up at least 50 handbags and totes, and designed a couple new handbags. Made a raincoat and hat for my dress form, Bernice,--she's getting a new Christmas outfit too, including lights! I have reconnected with my good friend of 20 years ago via FaceBook, ordered so much new stuff for the store that I am again re-structuring it. I have happily gotten my two teenagers back on track with their homework and chores. I have purchased probably a dozen new pairs of shoes (it's an admitted addiction) and now am getting ready for the holiday season.

Next post, I'll show you some of the great new stuff I got here in the store, including irresistible buttons and lovable huggable critters for kids.

Ciao for now,

Jeanie

Jane's Sew and So

I met a couple new friends, and I feel like I just entered the coolest amusement park ever!  You gotta visit Jane's Sew and So This is the most exciting show for sewing that I've seen yet.  It's not dry and boring like so many of the older 'how-to-sew' stuff--this is fresh and fun and geared toward beginners and intermediates alike, while giving us old folks some new funky/fun ideas!

You can get a schedule on their website to find where/when you can see it on your TV, there's even a couple episodes you can watch right on your computer, or you can order a couple DVDs and start your library. 

And here's the 'amusement park' reference:  I had the pleasure of meeting with Jane and her producer Susan here in Sew Joe and are they crazy fun!!  They have lots of exciting sewing projects up their (dare I pun) 'sleeve' so keep an eye out for more updates.  You're gonna want to collect of all their stuff.  Enter the summer sewing video contest at Jane's Sew and So.

Craftstylish project:  Magazine Reeds

I remember when I little, my aunt had this cool small trash receptacle next to her sewing machine that was one of those 3-gallon ice cream containers (the ones you can get at Fosselman's).  Her container was completely wrapped with these magazine reeds, threaded together with plastic clothesline.  It was awesome, and now I think I can actually make one.  (Making one never crossed my mind when I was that young.)  But hey, I'm sittin here thinkin' "what else can I make out of these reeds?"  

It would be a great Boy or Girl Scout project to take on as a recycle effort covering pencil cups, small trash cans, flower vase, you could do an entire desk set with 'mag-reeds'.  Anyway, this looks fun, I'm all over it.  

You have some fun too--make something today.

Ciao for now,

Jeanie

CraftStylish is cool stuff!

Visit CraftStylish and learn how to make these cool buttons and more!
Grab a cuppa 'Joe (pun) and sit with your computer for some really quality creative inspiration. 

Sign up for their weekly newsletter and stay connected--you'll get excited and get ready to do a little project or take on a big one.  Besides their weekly offerings, there are tabs to click on for sharing & discovering, departments that fit your craft such as: sewing, crafting, needlework, fashion, patterns, restyling, gifts and too many more to list.  If you wanna know how to do it, or just pick out a great project, it's there for you--complete with instructions and photos.  Their member gallery is a vast collection of posts by those who made something fabulous and are sharing with all of us.  More inspiration awaits you.

Even if you don't sign-up for the newsletter, bookmark CraftStylish and read it when you need it.  

Have fun, and make something today!

Jeanie

I miss my Apple

What an empty feeling, being without my computer.  It feels just like when  you have to leave your car for repair and even though you get a ride home and have all these great people in your life to take you anywhere (sort of), it's just not the same.  It's the perceived feeling of freedom that has been robbed from us over some worn out brake shoes or radiator problems.  Adjusting is easy, and not even that big of a pain in the #*%, but what a difference.  Are we spoiled?  I like 'monetarily well-adjusted' better, cuz riding the bus sucks.  

I actually blew an engine once, and had to take the bus everywhere for two weeks.  The only good thing about it was I lost a bunch of weight walking (sometimes running) to and from the bus everyday.  What a revelation: so now I know exercise works, but I don't ever wanna be without my wheels for that long again.  That was a long time ago and the only one I knew with wheels was that pudgy bus driver in a uniform and a big smile.

So when the Apple guy said 3 to 5 days without my computer, it felt like a judge without any clue how important this thing is to me banged his gavel and said "too bad".  I won't be loosing any weight with this loss of technology, and I can't think of anything good that is gonna come from 'computer-fasting'.  Not fair, it's raining outside too--a perfect day to sit and get some serious computer work done.  Ok, I borrowed one to do this blog, but I don't have my stuff.  I need my own computer stuff.

At least tomorrow I can get in my store and carry out all the sewing I have planned.  I'm making some Valentine and other fun little gifts, like sachets using fabulous silk scraps, trims and buttons like a little collage, then stuff them with lavender, chamomile and rose buds.  Wow, I'm feeling much better just thinking about it, I can't wait to get started.  I'm really in a sewing mood these days, and have so many new things that I'm making for the store.  Some of my new stuff sold pretty quickly--that was fun!  So now I'm thinking:  I hope to get lots done before Apple calls  me to pick up my computer.

Ciao for now,

Jeanie