Mallory Hill Designs

Quote of the day!

2011-10-29T13:56:00.002-04:00

I might need this for my studio

Halloween Decorations - Entertaining using pumpkins

2011-10-26T17:08:00.001-04:00

So this is kinda like decorating but I thought it deserved its own category since these show different ways to use pumpkins while you entertain. So fun and creative!

Pumpkin Dip - tablespoon.com

Veggie Tray - HERE

Pumpkin Soup - Pinned Here

Pumpkin punch bowl - Martha Stewart

Pumpkin Stew - tasteofhome.com

Sewing for Baby - Halloween Costumes

2011-10-18T17:30:00.001-04:00

Originally I didn't think I really needed a Halloween costume for my little lady. I figured I could put her in the pumpkin outfit from her great Aunt and she would be all set. Then I started seeing cute costumes all over the place (mainly pinterest because that is where I spend all of my free time). Now I think I must have a costume for her. I haven't found exactly what I want for a newborn so I am working on my own creation. While I work here are a few pictures I found for future costume inspiration.

Pinned Here

I Love Lucy - Pinned Here

Pinned Here

Halloween Decorations - Candy Corn!

2011-10-17T19:18:00.001-04:00

I LOVE candy corn. Just another great thing about fall and Halloween. Check out how to use this delicious treat this season.

Woman's Day

Yum!! - Found Here

Pinned Here

Candy Corn Vodka - Yes please! - Found Here

Candy Corn Bark - Found Here

Halloween Decorations - Decorating with pumpkins

2011-10-11T15:57:00.001-04:00

More Halloween fun! I never knew there were so many ways to decorate with pumpkins!

Pinned Here

Country Living

Pinned Here

Halloween Decorations - Pumpkin Carving

2011-10-10T14:44:00.001-04:00

I love Halloween for so many reasons, but mainly because it allows you to be crafty in so many ways. Take a look at all of these pumpkins!

Strange Purses #8

2011-10-09T13:51:00.001-04:00

Click HERE to see previous Strange Purses posts.

Today's strange purse comes to us from Lunacy Boutique. This site is full of fun and crazy stuff, I am sure I can go back to find more bags and purses that fit into the category of this post. But for now we will look at the telephone bag.

A bit crazy, a bit strange but it is a lot of fun. I can't see myself ever carrying this bag around but it has a bit of whimsy the I like. If I was 12 again I would be in love with this bag. I love the alternative handle, I'm a sucker for crazy purse straps and handles.

2 becomes 3

2011-08-30T20:58:00.003-04:00

I can't believe it's been over 2 weeks since my little lady arrived. Everyone told me the time would fly and it's true, I swear she is getting bigger every day.

Building your business - blogs I like

2011-08-11T13:56:00.002-04:00

Someday I hope to make my crafting and sewing into more of a real business and money maker. I don't plan to be the next Martha Stewart but it would be nice to be able to quit my day job, stay home with my kids and still provide income for my family. There are millions of blogs and books out there about how to do this, these are my two favorite blogs that I have found. Their posts are always relevant and written so that anyone can understand them. They cover real topics and I learn something every time I visit their site.

Check them out when you have time:

Crafting an MBA

and

Build a Little Biz

Sewing for Baby - Diaper Bag

2011-08-07T19:58:00.005-04:00

I have been doing a lot of sewing for the new little lady who's on her way. First up is kinda for me and kinda for her - the diaper bag! I knew I wanted to make my own bag but I did a lot of searching around online to pull inspiration from bits and pieces of other bags that I liked.

2 Large exterior pockets on the front and back, 2 pockets on the side to hold diapers and other odds and ends. Then there are 4 pockets on the inside for more bits. A set of shoulder straps and a removable across the body strap will hopefully make it easy to use in any situation.

The exterior fabric is Amy Butler from her Soul Blossoms Home Dec collection. It has leather piping and a leather base.

I had a great time figuring out the size and dimensions and getting all the pieces together. Hopefully it will work out well for the baby and me!

Tutorial Tuesday!

2011-08-02T20:45:00.003-04:00

I've kinda been obsessed with doilies lately. I just found this tutorial for a painted doily t-shirt, too much fun.

Find it here

Quote of the Day

2011-08-01T18:39:00.004-04:00

Um...can I hang this in every room in my house? Also on the front door so people know what to expect when they come in the house.

Pinned Here

Fun ribbon project!

2011-07-31T12:38:00.004-04:00

Love these, they look super easy to make. Would be great for hair clips, shoe clips, a broach, really the possibilities are endless. Check out Marthastewart.com for the instructions and a few other ribbon projects.

Quote of the Day

2011-07-28T18:35:00.001-04:00

I love quotes, I love to collect them and share them. So here is a quote I found and like, from me to you. I'd love to hear your favorites!

Strange Purses #7

2011-07-27T16:05:00.001-04:00

For previous Strange Purses posts see number 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6

So I have been a little behind on my strange purse post that was supposed to be a monthly event but has been MIA for the past few months. Well, don't fear because I found a new strange purse, I think I might actually call this purse flat out ugly. I am not a huge fan of designer purses to begin with. I think they are usually overpriced and people are just trying to show off by purchasing one. I would rather have 100 $30 purses rather than one $3,000 purse, but maybe that's just me. I am sure that I would never be in line for this bag.

The Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork bag was released back in 2007 but even now, 4 years later it is still horrible. The bag cost over $52,000. This bag is crazy ugly and I can't believe that people would actually be tricked into purchasing this just because of the logo on the bag. Here are a few photos to show of the true ugliness of the bag.

I think it even looks more ridiculous seeing someone actually carrying it.

Obsession Confession - Pinterest

2011-07-26T18:31:00.006-04:00

It's official, I'm addicted to Pinterest. I will admit I can spend hours getting lost online, viewing different blogs and websites but now it is worse, much worse. Ever since I discovered Pinterest I can't log onto my computer without checking it out. As soon as the site loads you are tempted with amazing photos and new ideas. Then you click on a category and there is just no stopping me, I'm lost in wonderland and I love it. Are you on Pinterest? Do you get lost for hours on end? If not, I highly recommend it but let it be known, you have been warned - you will become addicted!

I did a little test and logged onto a fresh page on Pinterest to see how many lovable photos I could find in just a few minutes. Too many to count, but here are a few:

Pinned Here

Etsy discovery - marymaryhandmade

2011-06-05T19:25:00.005-04:00

You MUST stop by this etsy shop to see the amazing jewelry. These are some of the cutest necklaces I've seen in a while. Not sure why but I absolutely love the sloth!

via marymaryhandmade

Quote of the Day

2011-05-24T16:14:00.001-04:00

I saw this on pinterest today and thought I would share!

From etsy seller vol25

What I've been up to in 2011

2011-05-04T06:14:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it's May already, almost half way through the year, pretty crazy. I will admit I've been a little quiet on the blog this year so far but looking back at some of my resolutions for 2011 I am not doing too bad. I've already done 2 shows and I have one scheduled in the fall so I am on track to do my 6-8 shows, just need a little research to get a few summer shows lined up. I have been doing more sewing and designing, even though you may not be able to tell since I have totally failed on my second resolution so far - Etsy. My poor little Etsy account, only used to purchase, nothing for sale. But I have lots of time left in the year to get that taken care of so I won't consider it a full fail yet.

Oh yes, one more thing for 2011:

I'm expecting a little girl in August! I can't wait to meet her and make her clothes and toys and teach her how to sew. I can't believe I'm almost into my third trimester - very crazy!

What has 2011 brought you so far this year?

Easter Crafts

2011-04-18T18:00:00.002-04:00

I have never been a big fan of most Easter crafts, they are full of pastels and bunnies, neither of which often find themselves in my products. So I've been on a mission to find some modern crafts and decor that would actually be found in my house or that I would be happy to gift to someone. These are all fun crafts that would be easy to customize to your decor and your tastes. Here are a few selections that I've come across, let me know your thoughts or if you've found some of your own.

Martha Stewart:

Hostess with the Mostess:

Mel's Own Place:

Modern Design Blog:

Anthropologie does weddings!

2011-03-19T14:22:00.008-04:00

All I can say is that I am glad that I am already married. If this new wedding program from Anthropologie came out before my big day rolled around I (and my budget) would have been in a lot of trouble. The collection is found at bhldn.com and it is amazing. They have gowns, bridesmaid's dresses, lingerie, shoes, jewelry, cover-ups, hair adornments and accessories. Just about everything you need to get you and your special ladies all set for the walk down the aisle.

I haven't seen every item but from my first look over the site this is place to find unique items to add a special touch to your look. And the prices really aren't too bad, I can't really afford most things in the regular Anthropologie store and I'm not one to spend $400 on a pair of shoes for my wedding day but many people are. The most expensive gown is $4,000 which (although more than 4 times the cost of my dress) isn't that bad compared to some of the gowns out there that would compare to this style.

Here are a few of my favorites from the different categories throughout the collection.

Favorite shoes:

Favorite Bridesmaid's dresses:

Favorite Gown:

New Spring Show

2011-03-19T12:02:00.004-04:00

Another new show on the way. My resolution to do more show is going well, this will be my second in 2011, I only did 4 in 2010 so I am halfway there with plenty of time to get many more in. This show will be in Rocky River on April 16th. This show is put on to support the Women's Alliance for Recovery Services.

The show will be at the Rocky River Memorial Hall, 21016 Hilliard, Rocky River, Ohio.

So come out and support the Women's Alliance and local artists! I hope to see you there.

Surprise Show! Bazaar Bizarre Valentine's Market, Cleveland, Oh

2011-02-03T20:05:00.006-05:00

My favorite indie craft fair, Bazaar Bizarre, has set up a new show for Valentine's Day. Come visit me and the other fabulous vendors to pick up a special something for yourself of your sweetie. Or upcoming birthdays, baby showers, bridal showers or any other festivities that you have coming up. There is something for everyone here!

Stop by the former United Bank Building, across from the West Side Market. The address is 2012 W. 25th, at the corner of Lorain Rd. The show will be this Saturday from 10 - 8.

Bazaar Bizarre has partnered up with the awesome local retailers Room Service and Salty Not Sweet to create an amazing event. See you there!

Side note: I am working on a new and improved website and store so it may be a little quiet around here for a bit. No worries I'll be back in full force soon!

CraftFail

2011-01-19T20:22:00.006-05:00

I have been a fan of the CraftFail blog for a while. Is it weird that this website actually inspires me? Seeing other's fail makes me feel better about all those projects of my own that didn't work out that were stuck in the back of my closet (or in the bottom of the trash can). My favorites are the entries that show a photo of their inspiration and then a photo of how their attempt turned out. Here are a few of my favorites:

Inspiration:

Fail:

Inspiration:

Fail:

Inspiration:

Fail:

So thank you to all of those people who are brave enough courage to share your failures!

Strange Purses #6

2011-01-08T17:22:00.002-05:00

To see previous strange purse posts - #1, #2, #3, #4, #5

Oh no, did your cat die? No? That's your purse?

This is the conversation that immediately pops into my head when I see this bag. I really can't imagine that many people bought this purse, especially since the price tag was over $5,000. I came across this beauty on the fabulous luxist. Designed by Renaud Pellegrino this bag is made out of fox fur and makes me throw up in my mouth just a little bit. I would never carry a real fur bag but I have seen some that are at least mildly attractive and even a few faux fur bags that are nice looking. But this one takes the cake for ugliest fur bag ever.

Gifts for a chilly day

2011-01-06T16:35:00.008-05:00

Yesterday there was no snow on the ground at all, today at 4:30 there is almost an inch covering my entire yard. I am bundled up on the couch determined not to go outside until I am forced to do so. I am perfectly happy to cuddle up under a quilt and try to stay warm and cozy. If you have the same weather I have put together a selection of warm, cuddly gifts for someone close to you or maybe after the holiday season it's time to give a gift to yourself! Snatch up some of these goodies and bundle up.

Body Ease Herbal Tea from spirithorseherbals:

Felted Slippers from WarmToze:

Colorful Quilt from PiecesOfPine:

Cable Afghan from juliannadw:

New Year's crafty resolutions

2011-01-05T16:13:00.002-05:00

I guess it's that time of the year, everyone is looking back at what they accomplished last year and figuring out what they want to accomplish this year. I looked back at my resolutions from 2010 and I can say that I didn't do half bad. Of course there are a few that will carry over into 2011 that still need improvement but overall I think I did ok.

I know it's a little cliche but I am going to post my crafty resolutions anyway.

1 - More craft shows - In 2009 I did 2 shows, in 2010 I did 4 shows. I need to keep growing that number so this year my goal will be 6-8 shows. I did 3 holiday shows in 2010 so I need to concentrate on more spring/summer shows in 2011.

2 - ETSY! - I am horrible at this one, I never have anything in my shop and that's a big problem. I have tons of items just sitting in my studio that could be for sale or perhaps sitting in your closet! I WILL get better at this in 2011.

3 - More sewing and new designs - This is just a general goal that is pretty standard throughout the years. I have sketchbooks full of drawings, I am constantly tearing inspirational images from magazines and bookmarking pages on the Internet. I need to work all these ideas into physical products.

So those are pretty basic resolutions but I think if I follow through with them I will have a successful year. Wish me luck!!

Tutorial Tuesday

2011-01-04T07:50:00.001-05:00

This is more than any regular Tutorial Tuesday. I found an amazing list of the top 100 tutorials of 2010.

The wonderful Ellen from The Long Thread put together this great list that includes so many wonderful tutorials it will keep you busy throughout the entire year! Here are a few selections from her list.

My year in cities 2010

2011-01-02T09:57:00.006-05:00

I saw this on a blog a few years ago and I love making this list at the end of each year. Here is a quick review of my year in cities that I have stayed at least one night in this year.

Westerville, OH - Home

Chagrin Falls, OH - My parents home, many nights spent here throughout the year

Orlando, FL - Vacation

Manassas, PA - Went to visit my husband while he was on a business trip

Dayton, OH - To visit my grandparents, many visits throughout the year

Minneapolis, MN - Spring Quilt Market

Gatlinburg, TN - Vacation to Smokey Mountain National Park

Buckeye Lake, OH - Vacation with my husband's family

Cleveland, OH - Girls night out with high school friends

Minneapolis, MN - Creative Connections

Ashland, WI - Visit to meet my new nephew who was born in August

Houston, TX - Fall Quilt Market

San Francisco, CA - Vacation with my husband

Somewhere in Utah on the California Zephyr train - Vacation

Glenwood Springs, CO - Vacation

Denver, CO - Vacation to Rocky Mountain National Park

So there it is! I can't wait to see where 2011 takes me.

New Year's Eve DIY!

2010-12-31T10:28:00.002-05:00

I love crafting and a little DIY to make my parties special. Check out these fun crafts to make your party unique!

From Craft Gossip

From Ruffles & Stuff

From Design Sponge

From Martha Stewart

Have fun and I'll see you in 2011!

New Years Eve Party Inspiration!

2010-12-30T17:03:00.007-05:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday! It was all sugar plums and candy canes around here, so much fun seeing family and friends. I'm preparing for a New Year's eve party for tomorrow night so I thought I would share some inspiration in case you are doing the same. Have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

From Design Sponge

From Rubyju

From The Kitchn

From Better Homes & Gardens

From Martha Stewart

Holidays are coming - DIY Christmas Ornament inspiration

2010-12-20T09:22:00.011-05:00

More holiday inspirations, this edition includes a few great DIY Christmas ornaments that are easy and many are kid friendly. Some of them are so easy you still have time to whip them up and get them up on the tree before the big day!

From Crafty Crafty

From Country Living

From My Sweet Savannah

From Design Sponge

From Martha Stewart

Holidays are coming - Gift tag inspiration

2010-12-18T21:44:00.002-05:00

Gift tags are a great way to personalize gifts for all of your friends and family. There are millions of different ways to create custom tags to make each of your gifts unique.

From Apartment Therapy

From How About Orange

From Martha Stewart

Holidays are coming - Pink Christmas Trees

2010-12-16T08:02:00.002-05:00

Another non-traditional tree, but probably one of the most fun options in my opinion. I love the color that these trees bring into the rooms.

From Making it Lovely

From Chic Geek

From E-How

From Big River Blog

From Pink Rage

Holidays are coming - White Christmas Trees

2010-12-14T18:28:00.003-05:00

A white Christmas tree is not the traditional choice for most families but these pictures show that they can be just as beautiful as the green trees that are more common. I especially love the 2nd one in this group, the color story is wonderful.

From Heliotrope Treehouse

From my daily

From Country Living

From Southern Living

From Natty Michelle

Bazaar Bizarre Winter 2010

2010-12-13T18:29:00.005-05:00

I'm back from Bazaar Bizarre and it was wonderful. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and welcome if you are visiting for the first time. Unfortunately I left my camera in Cleveland so I don't have photos of my booth for you. I hope everyone who shopped had a great time and I hope the rest of the vendors had fun too. If you are in the Cleveland area you should check out Last Minute Market next weekend, many of the vendors will be showing there.

I was supposed to have another show next weekend but unfortunately it didn't come together so I am officially done with shows for 2010. It's pretty exciting and now I get to look forward to 2011 and put together a new list of shows. If you have any favorite Midwest shows that you like to visit let me know and I will do my best to check them out.

Don't forget to stop by throughout the rest of the week for some more holiday inspirations!

Lonny Magazine - December issue!

2010-12-10T08:00:00.002-05:00

The December issue of Lonny Magazine is up! Check it out for some yummy inspiration for your weekend.

Don't forget, Bazaar Bizarre is this weekend in Cleveland. Stop buy and get your holiday shopping done from local artists.

New Blog Discovery - My Owl Barn

2010-12-09T19:11:00.009-05:00

Another new blog discovery!

Lately I have become slightly obsessed with owls. It started a few years back when I saw a vintage ceramic owl in a photo shoot and I wanted one. I was on a search until I found "the right" owl. I have since found my owl and many more. Then I discovered My Owl Barn and I have a whole new list of owl related items on my wish list. Take a look, but beware you may become obsessed!

And right now they are offering a free downloadable calendar so stop by and pick your images now!

Tutorial Tuesday - fabric scrap bookmark

2010-12-07T09:08:00.002-05:00

Another tutorial from the wonderful world of How About Orange.

This is a great project that seems pretty easy and would be a lot of fun to work on. And talk about a great scrap buster project, not to mention a fun holiday gift! A great tutorial for a fun bookmark with fabric cutouts Right Here!

Holidays are coming - Christmas tree inspiration

2010-12-04T16:51:00.003-05:00

More holiday inspiration! Here are few "traditional" Christmas trees for this festive season. I love how different each tree looks and how easy it is to make a tree unique and special for your family.

From Country Living

From Apartment Therapy

From Country Living

From Martha Stewart

Holidays are coming - great table setting inspiration

2010-12-04T16:09:00.002-05:00

Holidays around the corner mean entertaining and dinner parties. I love different table settings and seeing how others decorate their tables, using color, texture and a variety of textiles and glassware. The possibilities are truly endless!

From sfgirlbybay

From Remodelista

From Martha Stewart

From Apartment Therapy

From Decor8

Holidays are coming - gift wrapping inspiration

2010-12-02T20:35:00.007-05:00

The holidays are just around the corner and I have started gathering gifts here and there and now I need to start gathering gift wrap ideas as well. I have been searching for new ideas and I have found some great inspiration - check it out!

From Whisker Graphics

From Apartment Therapy

From Martha Stewart

Tutorial Tuesday - Gift bows from recycled magazines

2010-11-30T20:35:00.002-05:00

This tutorial could be a little bit dangerous for me. If you remember I have a slight obsession with magazines. I really want to make a million bows and put one on every gift I give this holiday season, these are so much fun! The tutorial comes to us again from How About Orange, this blog is full of great tutorials. Click Here to see the instructions.

-All images from How About Orange-

New blog discovery - Dollar Store Crafts

2010-11-29T20:15:00.003-05:00

I absolutely love when I find a new blog to follow, I love it even more when that blog is about crafting and I go over the edge if that blog is about crafting without spending lots of money. So you can only imagine my delight when I discovered Dollar Store Crafts. This blog is full of great ideas, tutorials and links to other fun blogs and crafty sites. I can barely contain my excitement long enough to write this post, I should be searching through their archives discovering new crafts and techniques. Enjoy a few photos of wonderful (cheap!) crafts from this fun new (to me) blog!

These are made totally our of paperclips! Insane!

Images via Dollar Store Crafts

Great Idea! Kraft Paper table runner

2010-11-19T21:48:00.002-05:00

I love this idea from Remodelista. I love having people over for dinner or game nights and this is a perfect way to keep things clean and super easy to clean up. She suggests using Kraft paper as a table runner - genius! This looks nice, crisp and clean and is pretty inexpensive and I love her idea of setting up colored pencils or markers on the table for your guests to write notes or leave a special doodle for you. I've seen this idea used many times in restaurants and it would be so easy to bring the idea home to your own table.

image via remodelista

Tutorial Tuesday - How to transfer an image to fabric

2010-11-16T18:00:00.003-05:00

Today's tutorial comes to us from the wonderful blog How About Orange.

She gives a great tutorial on how to transfer an image to fabric using gel medium. She makes it look super simple, I haven't tried it yet but this great how-to might just be the inspiration I need. Click Here for the tutorial.

-All images from How About Orange-

Small Business Saturday

2010-11-15T17:30:00.002-05:00

I just found this link last week and I think it's a wonderful idea. We have Black Friday, Cyber Monday and now Small Business Saturday to get us through the Thanksgiving shopping weekend. A great way to kick off the holiday shopping season - make sure to support small businesses throughout the country this holiday season! This new movement started in New York City by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the Chief Executive of American Express - Kenneth Chenault. They are hoping to encourage people to shop at locally owned, independent businesses instead of only shopping at large chains. Celebrate Small Business Saturday on November 27th!!

Show 2 complete

2010-11-13T16:19:00.003-05:00

Today I went to the Huggs for the holidays craft bazaar. I normally only have good things to say when I return from a show but today this was not the case. No problems with the show itself or the organizers, everything was well organized and they did a great job. The problem was with the traffic - slooooow. Not many people and the people that were there were not in the mood to buy anything. But I made enough to cover my booth fee so I guess I didn't loose money - you have to look at the bright side, right? I did meet a few nice people and made a possible connection for another local show in the summer so hopefully it will lead to good things in the future. I hope to see you at Bizarre Bazaar in December!

Fall '10 Quilt Market Recap - More great booths

2010-11-12T21:30:00.002-05:00

There is a lot more than just the big fabric companies at market so here are some of my favorite "other" booths that had fun displays and great patterns:

Make Your Day Designs

Indygo Junction

Art Gallery Fabrics

Here are two of my favorite quilts that I saw:

I can't remember the name of this designer, if you know her name please post a comment below

Tula Pink

To see more photos from Quilt Market be sure to check out True Up, Kim has a great overview of TONS of booths and sneak peeks at upcoming fabrics.

Fall '10 Quilt Market Recap - Top 5 fabric designer booths

2010-11-11T18:00:00.002-05:00

I think I had the same late Quilt Market recap for spring market. I have so many things to catch up on after market it seems like the blog post gets pushed aside. Sorry about that! Without putting you through more waiting here are some of my favorites from market.

Of course the bigger designers always have amazing booths - here are my 5 fabric fabric booths:

Amy Butler - Always amazing, first place booth winner this year

Tina Givens - I didn't get a photo so this is the best one I could find online, not too great, her booth was awesome!

Anna Maria Horner - Always a colorful place

Alexander Henry Fabrics - great setup, really awesome tablecloths

Jenean Morrison - awesome booth, yes that's a bike covered in fabric - too fun! And over to the left a guitar covered in fabric too.

Mark Twain Craft Bazaar

2010-11-10T16:24:00.007-05:00

The first show of the season is over - and it was a success. A great way to kick off my set of shows. There was a great crowd and people were there to shop which is always very important. I had a wonderful time and I'm sure I will be back next year. If you stopped by to see me at the show, THANK YOU! I will have most of the products from the show on Etsy soon so keep checking back. Here are a few photos of my table. Sorry they aren't great, I left my camera at home so I had to use the camera phone - not too bad though! You will notice my wonderful new shelves from Ikea!

Ikea Adventures - new craft show displays

2010-10-24T14:10:00.005-04:00

I visited one of my favorite stores yesterday... Ikea! I could honestly spend days wandering through that place and never get tired of it. I was on a mission to find some new shelves to use for display in my craft show booths. I haven't gotten them out of the boxes yet so all I have to show is the stock photo from the Ikea website.

I got two of these:

And one of these:

They are simple, easy to assemble and I think I will really like them for my shows. I have about 2 weeks until my first show of the season, once I get my display staged I will try to post some pics. But first, I have to take a one week break because I am headed off to Quilt Market in Houston, I can't wait!

Do you love to create? 25 signs that you may love to create

2010-10-22T07:22:00.005-04:00

Check out Vickie Howell's list of "25 signs that you may love to create." It will bring a smile to your face and if you're anything like me you will probably find a few (or most of them) that apply to your own life.

I definitely see myself in #1 - My husband broke my Amy Butler Vintage Botanica platter only a few days after I got it (never released, one of a kind!). I had a hard time letting those broken pieces of ceramic go.

And I know I see myself in #22 - we all know I have a problem with magazines. Have you seen my studio lately? I "cleaned" it up since I was having some house guests. For some reason my husband didn't think my 3 foot high stack of magazines in the corner of my studio counted as "organized" - I disagree.

Where do you fall on this list? Have any other signs?

Holiday shows confirmed!

2010-10-12T09:21:00.003-04:00

It's official, I was accepted to all 4 of the holiday craft shows that I applied to! Yikes, 4 shows, that's a lot. I have been a sewing machine (hehe) over the past few weeks and I am kicking it up a notch as my first show is in less than 4 weeks and I will be out of town at Quilt Market for one of those weeks, so only 3 work weeks left! I will add the dates to the blog soon so you can come visit me and check out the goods.

Here are a few snaps of my booth at last year's Bazaar Bizarre show.

Yum!!

2010-10-07T17:45:00.003-04:00

I think I need to throw a party just so I can make this dessert. Apples, honey, peanut butter! It looks amazing and peanut butter is one of my basic food groups so I would thoroughly enjoy this. Take a look at the full recipe Here.

I want...

2010-10-06T20:36:00.005-04:00

Um, I am a bit jealous and I think I need my craft room to look like this.

Check out the full post at Apartment Therapy. The beautiful craft room belongs to Erica Domesek of P.S. I made this!

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-10-05T17:32:00.002-04:00

A new tutorial for you!

I have been a bit obsessed with owls lately, I'm not sure why. But every time I see an owl I want to pick him up and take him home. Luckily for the clutter factor in my home I have not been taking them home. But I saw this tutorial from a great blog called Made by Joel and I think it would be super cute for a nursery. Click here for the instructions. Enjoy!

New product - wristlet!

2010-10-02T10:50:00.002-04:00

I have been sewing up a storm in preparation for the holiday show season that is just around the corner. I have applied to 4 shows this year - hopefully I will hear back from them soon so I know just how much sewing I need to do.

Anyway... I have started working on a new design for wristlets. I got a pattern from Etsy for a basic wristlet and tweaked it a bit to be my own. It is convertible so it can go from wristlet to a small purse it you prefer - very versatile!

I made one sample and liked it so I have 22 more on the way! I will post the shows I will be at once I have all the info and hopefully I will put some of these items up on Etsy so someone could actually buy them. Here's a little sneak peek.

Holiday season 2010 craft shows

2010-09-26T15:34:00.002-04:00

I have applied to 4 shows for this upcoming holiday season. Yay! Hopefully I will hear back from them soon so I can plan exactly what I need to have ready.

Two of the shows are small, one day shows at the local schools. Those are not juried so I am just waiting to make sure there is enough space. Hopefully I will do well at those and I can continue to do them because the booth fee is pretty reasonable. They are The Mark Twain Craft Bazaar and the HUGGS for the holidays show that benefits the families of the Westerville Police Department.

The other two shows are bigger and juried so I am waiting to see if I get accepted. Bazaar Bizaare I've done 3 times so hopefully I will have no problem getting in to that one. The other one is a new show in Columbus called The Indie Exchange. I am a little nervous since it is new and pretty expensive but they are making big promises so hopefully it will be a great show. I should know more about these shows in the next few weeks and then I will REALLY have to get sewing.

I added a few new photos to my Flickr page of some of my recent projects for my show applications, check them out!

How little is too little?

2010-09-24T20:32:00.002-04:00

via little white paw

I was helping my sister clean out her sewing room this past weekend and I helped my mom with the same project a few weeks ago (free fabric for me!). Both times we started going through scrap piles. I am a slight hoarder so I have an extremely hard time throwing anything away. I'm not ready for TLC to come film my house or anything but there are a few areas (especially my sewing room) that could use a professional organizer and probably a big dumpster. We got to talking about how hard it is to throw away scraps during or after a sewing project, and she said "how little is too little to save?" I thought this was a very good question because I am guilty, on many occasions, of saving teeny, tiny fabric scraps because what if someday I am working on a project and I need a sliver of green fabric? Yes, these thoughts actually go through my head and no, these projects in need of slivers of fabric never come around.

So how small is too small to keep? My piles and baskets of scraps show me that I obviously think there is no such thing as too small.

Spending time outside

2010-09-11T23:14:00.001-04:00

I will be the first to admit that my posts haven't been exactly regular around here. I will admit that the summer has gotten the best of me and I haven't been around the computer too much. I have a good excuse though, I promise!

Here are a few of my excuses -

Smokey Mountain National Park - hiking and waterfalls

Buckeye Lake - weekend trips

Springfield Flea Market - searching for treasures

Inniswoods Metro Gardens - I could spend hours wandering through this park

Found! Vintage School Desk

2010-09-01T19:16:00.010-04:00

As I walked down to the store today I passed this wonderful vintage school desk sitting in my neighbors front yard - only $30 (I got it for $20)! I grabbed it, paid the wonderful gentleman who owned it and ran home before anyone could try to take it from me. What will I do with this desk? I have no idea but I love it. He told me it was from a school house in Virginia and it is at least 65 - 70 years old - so cool. (I know the pictures aren't too glamorous but my new find is being stored in our unfinished basement which is pretty un-glamorous too.)

Here is a bit of inspiration for me from the good old google image search.

via Ohdeedoh

via Paris by appointment only

via The Stir

via Country Living

I think I like it in the kids room or play room the best. But I do heart that amazing shop in Paris, I think I need to go sew there someday.

Coasting into the weekend - free coaster tutorial!

2010-08-27T10:22:00.002-04:00

I have been wanting to start working on a few tutorials for a long time. I just had to get my act together and make the samples, write the instructions, take the photos and write the post - no biggie. So, finally, here is my first tutorial! I would love to hear what you think - good or bad. I hope to do many more so your feedback would be very helpful!

Quilted Coasters:
Instructions and materials listed will create a set of 6 coasters

Materials Needed:
12 - 5" squares (this can all come from one fat quarter or you can mix it up using various scraps or a set of squares from your favorite charm pack)
6 - 5" squares of fleece interfacing (or quilt batting)
Ruler
Cutting board

Rotary Cutter

Thread (coordinating if you want it to blend in or contrasting if you want to add a punch of color, I used contrasting thread to show off the top stitching.)

Sewing Machine

1) If you haven't already, cut your fabric and fleece interfacing into 5" squares

2) Layer two 5" squares on top of each other right sides together
3) Layer one 5" square of fleece on top of one of your fabric squares

4) Sew around the edge of the square with a 1/4" seam allowance, leave a hole at least 1" wide for turning

5) Clip the corners to reduce bulk

6) Turn your fabric right side out and press
7) Tuck in the raw edges of your turning hole and start to top stitch around the outside edge of your coaster catching the hole in your first line
7) Continue top stitching in concentric squares until you reach the center (this can be as precise or messy as you want depending on the look you want from your coasters)
8) Repeat steps 2 - 7 for your additional coasters
9) Wrap these up as a great quick gift or invite your friends over, crack open a bottle of wine and show off your amazing sewing skills!

So there it is, my first tutorial - let me know what you think!

BLOCKED!

2010-08-23T21:49:00.005-04:00

I'm having design block - like writer's block but with purses. I have girl's night out planned for this weekend and I wanted to come up with a small clutch or wristlet that I could bring out on the town with me but I can't get inspired. I've sketched a dozen designs, looked at thousands of photos, been through my entire fabric stash and nothing is jumping out at me. So frustrating!! I have two nights before I head out on the town so hopefully I can pull something together before I head out.

Does anyone have any tricks to get my brain working again?

What to do with vintage doilies?

2010-08-20T18:13:00.006-04:00

I've had these vintage doilies for a few years, they were given to me and I've kept them in a closet ever since. I finally pulled them out and gave them a little bleach bath to clean them up. There are a few snags here and there but overall they are in great condition. I have a few thoughts on how to use them, perhaps on a laptop sleeve or a bag down the road. We'll see how they hold up and how easy they are to work with. Have you ever worked with something this delicate - any advice would be welcome!

Here are 2 of my favorites -

Collections on display - mini purses

2010-08-18T20:31:00.003-04:00

I have a slight habit of starting off collections all the time, rather than keeping these collections stored away in a box somewhere I love to have them out on display. Today's subject is my collection of mini purses. It's not secret that I love purses - in all shapes and sizes. So over the years I have come across these little guys at garage sales and flea markets and picked them up to add to my little shelf in my studio.

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-08-17T08:08:00.002-04:00

Another fun tutorial for Tuesday! This one comes to us from a very fun blog Cluck Cluck Sew - full of great tips and fun tutorials. I love these pillows and the possibilities are truly endless since you just need a few scraps of fabric - and honestly who doesn't have boxes of fabric around their studio?

Click Here for the tutorials:

Need a dress?

2010-08-15T20:20:00.002-04:00

I found these photos a few weeks ago on The design dish and had to share them. These dresses may not be the most practical that I've seen but the construction and vision behind them are amazing. After seeing these dresses I checked out the Viktor & Rolf website and WOW their runway shows are amazing. I can't say I've watched tons of runway shows but the one's I have seen are pretty straight forward, models walking down a straight runway and then back down again. I only watched a few but they are fantastic, worth watching. My favorites so far are "Show" and "Cutting Edge Couture." Both are pretty wonderful, I can't wait to watch the rest. After watching the first few episodes of Project Runway it all makes me want to get creative!

New Lonny issue and new online mags!

2010-08-13T08:03:00.002-04:00

The new issue of Lonny magazine is up. It's full of great photos and design ideas - as usual! Take a peek.

I also recently discovered two more new online mags, I am loving this trend of online magazines. They will never replace the real one's but it is fun to have some inspiration to virtually flip through.

Check our Delish and Joie for some more inspiration.

Stores I want to visit

2010-08-06T08:06:00.002-04:00

More and more shop owners are starting blogs to support their stores. Since I am slightly addicted to blogs (reading others that is, not so much posting to my own lately unfortunately) I come across tons of stores that I wish were just down the street. Usually they are in a far away land like Australia or London but I lust after walking through their doors each time I open up their blogs. Here are a few stores that I have found through their blogs that I have added to my traveling wish list.

Lark - Daylesford, Australia - The Lark Blog Yummy Goods - West Barnstable, MA - Yummy Goods Blog

Curious Sofa - Kansas City - Curious Sofa Blog - I found this one in this months issue of Where Women Create - beautiful store!

These are just a few of the small shops I have discovered recently. I could go on and on about the places I want to shop around the world, my list is always growing. Are there any of your favorite shops you have found through a blog?

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-08-03T08:00:00.002-04:00

I found a new blog and I'm a huge fan - Ruffles and Stuff. It is not only the home of one or two great tutorials but she has tons of tutorials. And they are all fun and pretty simple and organized by category so they are easy to find and browse. Unfortunately I found out about this blog just a few months ago and she recently decided to stop blogging, but luckily for us she is keeping her archives online for everyone to enjoy!

It was next to impossible to pick just one tutorial to feature today but I landed on her LOFT inspired ruffled tank.

Very nice tank from Ann Taylor LOFT:

And the finished top made by Disney:

So cute! Click Here for the full instructions at Ruffles and Stuff.

Purses for your fingers?

2010-07-30T11:01:00.005-04:00

Ok, these are not purses at all but the shape and design remind me a lot of a silhouette of a purse. I discovered these beauties at bagexchange.com and loved the look of them. Each design is truly unique and not like any jewelry I've ever seen. Each piece is customizable and hand crafted for you. And the prices aren't too bad - most of them I looked at were in the $400 range. I love when artists see new inspiration and create something totally different than the everyday. You can see more of these designs and purchase them through Seaside Designs. Enjoy!

Collections on display - Fiestaware

2010-07-19T20:27:00.002-04:00

I have been known on many occasions to randomly start a collection when I see something pretty in a store or at a flea market. One of my recent collections started a few years ago at the amazing Springfield flea market. I fell in love with a beautiful Fiesta pitcher, and it has grown from there.

Here is my little collection of Fiestaware on display in my kitchen:

I also have these lovely little cups on display in my sewing room with another favorite collection of mine, fat quarters:

Here are some other great collections on display I've found online:

via Flicker user blairly

via Flicker user rebeccainseattle

via Flickr user spunky5775

via Flickr user embot9000

via Margo's Junkin' Journal

via Flickr user B-Kay

New craft books on the way

2010-07-13T18:03:00.008-04:00

We all know that I am a bit obsessed with craft books. I love them all, I can't get enough! Here are a few books that will be released later this year that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Amy Butler's Style Stitches I have all of her other books and this one is all handbags! I saw a preview of it at Quilt Market and there are some great patterns in there.

Tina Given's Sew Tina - I love Tina's fabrics and designs so I can't wait to see what fun she has in store for us in her new book.

Here are a few others that I found on Amazon that look great too:

Plus I just got Sew Retro and it is super cute, lots of great retro patterns and awesome photos from the 60's and 70's of sewing patterns and some great hairstyles too.

I also just bought The Homemade Home and One Skein Wonders - both full of some great patterns too.

I told you, I can't get enough. I added 3 books to my collection this month, like I needed any more?

Are there any new books you are looking forward to?

Free Books!

2010-06-30T08:30:00.001-04:00

When I was at TNNA I picked up a few new books. I need more craft books like a fat kid needs more cake but I simply can't resist them. Especially when they are free - I mean just giving them away! So I got these two gems:

Crochet Adorned:

A Rainbow of Stitches:

I haven't had a chance to really dig in to either book yet but after flipping through them at the show I am very excited about some of the cute projects - lots of great ideas. Plus I met Linda, the author of Crochet Adorned and she is super nice. She even offered up her email address in case I was having any trouble with any of the projects, how sweet is that! I will let you know once I crack open these books and have more info for you.

TNNA

2010-06-24T08:30:00.002-04:00

I was lucky enough to get to go to another wonderful trade show last weekend. TNNA (The National Needle Arts Association) was in Columbus so I got to go and take a peek around. I am not very into the needle arts...yet. I was very inspired walking around the show and seeing all of the beautiful samples so I think I might need to pick up my knitting needles and crochet hooks and get started again with these crafts.

Not many people let you take booth photos at this show so I only snapped a few shots of some nice looking booths.

The one and only Rowan:

Noni Designs:

Amy Butler, again. This lady is everywhere, now with yarn!

Spring 2010 Quilt Market...finally

2010-06-15T22:32:00.009-04:00

So this post is only about 3 weeks overdue but I finally uploaded my quilt market pictures to my computer. I didn't take a ton of photos but I got a few of some of my favorites.

Enjoy!

The wonderful Seven Islands/Kokka/Echino:

Indygo Junction:

The wonderful Amy Butler:

A new organic fabric company - Birch:

Favorite Things:

A great new pattern company called - Make Your Day Designs:

New from Mallory Hill!

2010-06-11T20:19:00.006-04:00

Linen Zips!

Sorry for the not so pretty picture, I got excited about these new little guys and just took a quick snap on my iphone because my camera was downstairs and I was being lazy. I had so much fun stitching these fellas together, I tried a couple different versions but these simple zips were my favorite. I am going to be at the summer Bazaar Bizarre in Cleveland on July 3rd (Stop by if you are in town!) so I will be zipping up a bundle of these for the show and then any leftovers will go into my Etsy store for you!

Obsession Confession - Sunflowers

2010-06-09T20:07:00.007-04:00

I have become obsessed with sunflowers lately. I logged onto Google this morning and saw that you can change the background of your Google home page - I don't know if this is new or not but it's new to me! (Check the bottom left corner of google to set your background) So I set my background to a crazy fun field of sunflowers.

I have always loved sunflowers and I've always wanted to visit a sunflower field, I've never seen one in person so now I am on the hunt for one in Ohio, preferably central or northeastern Ohio. Then, of course, I spent way too much time looking around online at photos of sunflowers and sunflower fields. Here is a little sunny inspiration for you today:

(This was taken in Ohio!) via flickr user janruss

I also found this image:

via Thai Blogs

And riding an elephant through this field of sunflowers is now on my bucket list.

Strange Purses #5

2010-06-08T19:10:00.002-04:00

Another edition of strange purses to feed your need for crazy and unique fashion accessories. This is another purse design that although it is a little strange I kinda like it. I don't know if I would be the type of person to walk around with a skull around my wrist but these are a bit edgy and the colors and textures are great. These are from accessory designer Natalia Brilli. Check out her website for some of her other fantastic designs.

Click Here for strange purses #1, #2, #3 & #4

Back from my travels

2010-06-01T20:35:00.006-04:00

I am back from my crazy travels and back to the blog! I haven't had a chance to upload my photos from Quilt Market yet but I will have them up soon. If you are starving for a little Quilt Market goodness, head over to True Up to see some of Kim's fantastic photos and reviews of some of the exciting new collections from market. She has tons of posts on a wide variety of booths so be sure to check out each and every lovely one.

I just found out that the summer Bazaar Bizarre show has a few openings so I might be hopping up to Cleveland for that show on July 3rd if I can get my act together and start sewing (a lot!) over the next few weeks. I will keep you updated on my progress along the way.

I will be back soon with market pictures and other updates. And since I've never done a picture-less post, here are the two new books I picked up at market, signed by the lovely authors themselves!

Fabric organization and storage

2010-05-14T20:45:00.003-04:00

I have a lot of fabric, having worked in the fabric industry for a little over 3 years now and having my mom constantly feed my obsession (thanks mom!) I seem to have acquired quite a bit and a great variety as well. I keep "my favorites" organized by color and out on open shelves in my room so I can constantly see it:

(notice my awesome vintage Singer Featherweight and my out of control magazine collection - well, about half of my magazine collection I guess)

This helps inspire me for new projects and lets me easily scan my fabric when the urge to sew hits me. I am often an impulsive sewer, when the mood hits me there is no stopping me and it's best if I have everything I need within reach at a moment's notice.

After organizing my fabrics on the shelves in my room I had lots of fabrics left over and I needed to have them organized so I could easily access them. I settled on good old plastic storage bins, you can't go wrong there. I have the rest of my fabric separated into - solids, warms (red, orange, yellow, etc), cools (blue, green, turquoise, etc) and neutrals (black, white, tan).

I even made some pretty labels with Amy Butler scrap book paper too!

Just the other day I needed a few solid colors to finish a project and I was so excited to open up my closet door and see my lovely bin of solids sitting there waiting for me. It made the whole project more enjoyable because I didn't have to dig through my entire stash to find one or two pieces of fabric. A great success!

Quilt Market Packing, Minneapolis here I come!

2010-05-12T20:13:00.005-04:00

I don't leave for 5 more days but I have already started planning my quilt market outfits and trying to pack in my head. I've pulled lots of clothes out and started making outfits that will work for the show. I am far from a fashionista so the advanced planning is very necessary so I don't show up with a pair of jeans a few shirts and then realize that I didn't bring any underwear or shoes (totally possible). I will be in Minneapolis for 8 days with lots of running around but hopefully that will also include lots of yummy food and adult beverages as quilt market usually does. I don't have to travel a lot for my job so I still enjoy going to trade shows, I am also a bit of a nerd and I love packing and traveling for any reason so I usually start early (for example, I've already started looking for hiking shoes and mentally tagging different clothes for my trip to Costa Rica this fall, only 6 months in advance - no biggie).

I can't wait to see old friends and all the new booth displays and fill myself up with new inspiration. And then fill my suitcase with any book, fat quarter and vintage button I can get my hands on!

Roman Shades (hopefully)

2010-05-03T18:51:00.007-04:00

I had a request from a friend of mine the other day to make her some roman shades for her nursery. I'm pretty excited because I have never tried them before but I love the look of them and if they are as easy as everyone says they are then I will be on a mission to get roman shades in every window I see. I found a tutorial on HGTV.com and it sounds pretty easy - but sometimes these step by step instructions are a little deceiving. I hope to go buy supplies this week and get working on my new project. The baby's due around Memorial Day so hopefully I can get myself working soon!

Here is a little roman shade inspiration for you (and me) today:

via spacesandiego

via Remodelista

via Apartment Therapy

via decorpad

Collections on display - Fat Quarters

2010-04-27T20:40:00.001-04:00

I am what many people may consider a "keeper." I keep most things that come into my house, I am bad at getting rid of things and I have a tendency to start collections all the time. During my craft room organization I started to realize just how many collections I have. I have my collections displayed throughout my house and I love to see how others display their various collections. So I think this will become a reoccurring topic over the next few months as I show some of my collections with you and find some other displays that I find fun. I love to collect so this could end up being a bit dangerous as I might find some new items that I need to start gathering.

To start us off here are a few photos that you may have seen before but it is one of my favorite collections. My Fat Quarters!

Strange Purses #4

2010-04-24T14:30:00.002-04:00

These are some strange purses but I think they are very cool. I love when designers use unexpected items for purse handles, I think it is often a very overlooked part of the purse. Both of these purses come from empire33.

The artist used a Civil War sword handle to make this purse - amazing!

This purse has a Japanese Katana sword handle as its handle - fantastic!

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-04-20T08:08:00.002-04:00

This week on tutorial Tuesday I bring you to a site that has a huge list of free patterns. One of my favorite fabric designers and more recently one of my favorite designers of just about everything else (bedding, towels, desktop accessories, rugs, the list could go on and on). Amy Butler's website has tons of free patterns for quilts, small sewing projects and paper crafts too. And after a peek at her new button it looks like there are a few new ones on their way too. Here are a few examples of the free patterns you can find but there are many more than I have listed so take a jump over to Amy's site and check them out.

Great estate sale find

2010-04-19T18:31:00.002-04:00

I am so excited about my recent find at an estate sale I stopped at over the weekend. I have always wanted a shelf like this, I always see them in people's house, antique shops and envy the owners greatly. But, now I finally have one of my own. I haven't decided exactly where I want to place this shelf or what I am going to store inside but I am excited to figure all these things out. The top is my favorite part, all the intricate detail is beautiful.

For now it sits in my dining room waiting for the light bulb to go off in my head when I think of the perfect spot/purpose for my wonderful new shelf. To be perfectly honest I have dreams of this in my studio to hold all of my fat quarters and other fun sewing notions but I think it is just too pretty to be hidden upstairs where nobody will ever see it. I will have to find a better spot for it, possibly in the dining room...we will see.

I had to add this picture since my cat snuck in the background.

I have officially converted!

2010-04-15T20:01:00.005-04:00

It's official! Today I came home to a brand new Mac Book laptop computer waiting for me. I am so excited I can barely contain myself. I have been playing with it for a few hours now getting everything all set up and it is fantastic. I have a Mac at my job so I have learned to love Mac's over the past year and I finally have one of my own!!!!

But, this comes with one big condition. I must use my computer to build my blog and my business. I need to start writing more and work on a few book ideas that I have. I can't wait to get started!

Garden days

2010-04-13T20:20:00.002-04:00

I can still barely believe that the weather is finally warm enough to start working in my garden. I spent a few hours outside today and am so excited to see my ferns are starting to sprout up and even my hostas are starting to peek through. My husband and I are planning a big backyard makeover this summer with a patio extension and hopefully a new built in fire pit and maybe even a water feature too. I can't wait!

Impulse Buying!

2010-04-10T09:50:00.001-04:00

I always get excited when Target gets ready to release a new designer collection. Unfortunately, I usually go to the store look at all the cool stuff and somehow convince myself that I don't "need" any of the items. And then without a doubt a few months go by, I see the products all over blogs and in magazines and I decide that, in fact, I do need those items. But by that time the product is long gone and can't be found in any store in town. This happened with the Orla Kiely collection and I was pretty bummed.

So, when I first heard about the Liberty of London collection at Target I made sure to note the date of release and promise myself that I would buy some of my favorite items. So the release came along a few weeks ago and I followed through on my promise to myself and got some goodies!

I got a set of journals, a candle, two storage boxes and a tunic!

Win your own copy of Martha's new book!

2010-04-07T19:41:00.007-04:00

If your a sewer then you know the name Singer as a very trusted brand of some of the best sewing machines on the market. They have an awesome contest going on, they are giving away a copy of Martha Stewart's new book Martha Stewart’s Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts every day the entire month of April. And you, my lucky reader, can enter to win your very own copy! The rules couldn't be easier just become a fan of Singer Sewing Company on facebook or sign up to follow them on Twitter and you will automatically be entered to win. Visit their website to find out more!

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-04-06T19:06:00.001-04:00

It's Tuesday again and I have searched through every blog on the Internet to find you another wonderful tutorial to feed your DIY needs!

This project is great for gifts or storage in your office. I love how you can completely make it your own by using any combination of paper and embellishments. Leah is the owner of Life of Lou where I found this wonderful project. The Magic Box tutorial looks pretty easy and has numerous uses throughout the house. Check it out and get working on one today!

PS. Can you believe it - I made it two weeks in a row!

It has arrived!

2010-04-05T20:03:00.001-04:00

Of course I had to order Martha's new book, I have the crafting encyclopedia so as a sewer of course I must have the sewing and fabric crafts encyclopedia too! So it arrived yesterday and I dove in as if it were a pile of warm cookies and I was a fat kid at dessert time. Yes, you could say I was a bit excited.

So on to the review. I have a subscription to Martha Stewart Living and I am also subscribed to the Martha Stewart Craft of the Day emails so I have seen LOTS of Martha's projects. As I flipped through the pages I will admit that I recognized many of the projects from previous issues of the magazine or email blasts. There were many projects that were new to me so it was still a lot of fun to take a look through the pages. Although there are some projects that can easily be found on many websites and other projects that I had seen before I still always love looking through Martha's publications. They have wonderful photography, great directions and I am always inspired after looking through the projects.

Overall I am really happy with the book and I can't wait to get started on a few projects!

Tutorial Tuesday!

2010-03-23T21:37:00.008-04:00

I don't know how long tutorial Tuesday will last but it is here for this week. Since I have been working (slowly) on getting my studio in order lately I have been loving looking at new crafty projects that I can work on when my room is all organized (someday!).

So here is the first installment of Tutorial Tuesday!

I found this pattern on a fun blog called Pearl Street Interiors. I love roman shades and I would love to have them all over the house but I haven't found some that are in the fabrics that I love and that I can afford. So I stumbled across this tutorial where I can easily make my own roman shades out of any fabric I want to make the final touches to my rooms perfect every time. Check out this tutorial for a little DIY decorating for your home. Here are the final photos from Jenny's project, check out her blog to see the full tutorial and more beautiful photos and decorating ideas!

Spring is Here!

2010-03-23T21:16:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it, after months and months of grey weather day after day we have finally had a few days of sunshine here in Ohio. I even have bulbs coming up throughout my yard!

What have I got myself into?

2010-03-07T13:44:00.010-05:00

I started this weekend in my sewing room with the plan to organize one of my closets. It was a bit of a disaster so it needed some help.

The previous home owner had wallpaper EVERYWHERE, including the closet and the ceiling in the closet. So there was a little piece sticking up and I pulled on it - big mistake. So a few hours later I was sitting in a pile of stripped wallpaper and new DIY project on my hands.

So, remember my studio that was coming together and getting clean? Well, this is what it looks like today:It's a crazy mess! But I am actually excited about the hopeful outcome that I will have. I am planning on painting it a nice clean white and doing some stenciling on the walls. Then I will organize it perfectly and it will be an amazing closet that I will be so happy with rather than the dark messy closet it was before.

I have these printing books so I plan to use the tips I find inside to make this closet beautiful.

Have you ever tried stenciling your walls? Any advice?

Lonny magazine

2010-02-28T20:00:00.003-05:00

After admitting to my magazine obsession recently I have been taking a look at Lonny magazine and wondering if this is where the future of shelter magazines (or all magazines) is heading. Lonny magazine is created by a group of designers, writers, photographers and other creative folks who have come together, many of them where formerly at Domino magazine. Lonny magazine is completely online, no print versions available. You can virtually turn the pages and if you are interested in an ad, a website or something in the photo they are all hyperlinked so you can go directly to the site and read about or buy the product you are interested in. I think this is a wonderful idea, they don't have to worry about paper quality, printing costs or many of the other issues that come along with a printed magazine. The magazine is on its third issue and I am loving it so far. Great articles, awesome photography and it's free! You can't get much better than that.

So, if this is the future of magazines what is going to happen to my stash? I like this new magazine but I love having actual magazines in my hands. I don't think I'm ready to loose print magazines forever but in a world of blogs and twitter it seems that it may not be totally unrealistic. What are your thoughts on virtual magazines?

Organizing my craft room - Before & After - My Book Shelf

2010-02-16T20:50:00.003-05:00

My next makeover target was my book shelf. I love craft and sewing books, really any type of book that has to do with these subjects is welcome in my book shelves at any time. Before my bookshelf was just that a shelf with all of my books tossed in.

Now it is a beautifully organized library of craft!

I spent the time to organize my books into different categories so I can easily find the book I want when I want it.

The top shelf includes all of my general sewing books:

My book shelf also has my little collection of vintage toy sewing machines!

The next shelf includes all of my bag making books, needle art books (knitting, crochet and embroidery) and all of my general craft books.

The next shelf has all of the jewelry/button crafts, paper crafting and business books.

The next shelf has a small storage unit and a collection of my journals that are just too pretty to use and write in so I just keep them to look at.

The final shelf has all of my sewing patterns (divided in two boxes, one for purses and one for everything else) and the rest of my miscellaneous books - fashion, decorating and a few others.

I have tried to keep a little extra room on the shelf because I am sure there will be more books to add to my shelf soon. Like Martha's new Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts that is coming out next month!

To see all of these images and the rest of my before & after studio photos you can visit my Flickr page.

Organizing my craft room - Before & After - Fat Quarter Storage

2010-02-11T20:06:00.001-05:00

We all know that I have a small obsession with fat quarters. I love to collect them, display them and just have them in general. I have a few areas where some of them are on display and before they were just kind of there. Not much organization or interaction with my other sewing notions so I did a little re-working the shelves, no huge deal but it makes me feel better when I walk in the room to have little pockets of organized, nice looking areas. Here are a few before images of the disaster areas:

And now, the after photos:
The "pretty" areas inspire me to keep on working on other sections of the room so eventually there will be one big inviting, inspiring room for me to work in.

Visit my new Flickr page to see a few more detail shots of each of these shelves.