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

Free machine embroidery

Happy Birthday to my daughter Kat--thirty something ;~)

Free is a good word today, and in this particular case there's no caveat along with these fabulous machine embroidery downloads.  This guy in Texas who works for a costume house, posts his embroidery for free!  Hip, Hip, Henry!!  Thank you Leslie (my customer) who shared this 411 with me to pass on to you.

So, click Henry's for lots of great machine embroidery.  Okay, there is a caveat, but worth the trouble.  The format of his designs is .SEW which is for Janome machines.  To convert the .SEW into a format for your machine go to Embroidery Designs and sign-in or create your account.  After signing in you will be on a page that will take you through the conversion process.  There are 19 different machines represented here, so you should be able to convert to your machine easily, just click on your format to convert, and download.  This conversion process is free from Embroidery Designs--thanks guys!

Can't wait to stitch the heart in the photo.  Coming soon to the store: 105 colors of machine embroidery thread from a new company.  These spools are 1000 meters at a mere $2.50 a spool, are 100% polyester (no bleeding like some rayons) and are getting rave reviews on the embroidery forums.

So my Sunday morning post is done, I feel good about sharing with you and now I am happily off to the Pasadena Bead and Design Show.  Send me an email if you have any questions or if you need help on the free embroidery.   

Ciao for now,

Jeanie

 

Back to the grind, hello 2009.

Ringing in the new year felt complete when my friends and I walked what felt like a couple miles up and down Orange Grove Avenue in Pasadena viewing the floats.  On Dec. 31st, about 10:30 p.m.; this is a great activity for those who love to see the amazing floral displays up close and fabulous, taking time to inhale the fragrance and satisfy the eye.  Seeing the flowers, seeds, twigs etc. as an art medium at such a magnitude is more fun for me that getting up in the wee hours and cramming myself and my kids into a small spot on a cold hard street curb to sit and watch them drive by.  I am happy to forego the bands, twirlers and horses for now, I've done that many times. We made it home in time to pop a cork and ring-in at midnight.  

It's also kind of interesting watching the overnighters set up their campsites, asking where they're from, glad that I decided years ago that I'll never be one to sleep on the side of the street waiting for a parade the next morning.  My kids informed me they wanna do that sometime.

Here we are today, back to the daily grind.  I love the photo (above) that my daughter and hubby took a couple months ago in New York.  It was a great holiday season, visiting with friends and relatives, but what really feels good now is getting back to a normal household.   

This year, my big resolution is only one word: focus!  I already know what it is I resolve, I have gone through many resolutions over the years, only to have my resolve slip my mind as I got caught up getting back into the daily routine.  So now, taking all those past resolutions, i.e. get organized, clean out the garage, exercise regularly, sew something new everyday, etc., I've decided that these are goals.  Thus the resolve: FOCUS.  

I got this great calendar/journal at Gracie's Market that fits in my purse.  My goals go on the calendar as appointments.  Big projects get put on the calendar, then I back into them placing small steps on days that I will focus on getting a part of my goal accomplished.  Baby steps add up, don't they?  If I don't get something done on the day I had it calendared, I will re-focus and put it down for the next available day I can do it.  

At the end of the day or week, it's so very satisfying to check off the things that got done!  Focus. Stay on track (most of the time).  Feel the accomplishment high.  (That's me reminding myself.)

Happy New Year!

Jeanie