Scrappy Valentine Project

Love is in the air! Valentine's Day is coming up, and here is a great project to use up some of those fabric scraps you have in your sewing room (and if you're like me, you have a lot of PINK scraps that are perfect for V-day).


I bought a foam wreath shape from JoAnn's and used lots of strips of my fabric scraps to cover the wreath -- just tie knots at random around the whole wreath until you have the density you want.

I'm pretty pleased with it! Hope this inspires you to make something lovely for Valentine's day too!

Sugar Snap Launch On Ebay!

Tomorrow is an exciting day! There will be a launch of Melissa Averino's fabric (sugar snap) on eBay!! I'm very excited to be one of the participants. Some of my goods (along with some amazing other things by other fabriholics including some unbelievable children's items and crazy-good purses, bags and totes) will be on sale on ebay from January 27th to February 14th. We've been working with the amazing Melissa Averino's on the launch. You don't want to miss this unveiling of items made with her fabric.

Check back here for more details or go to ebay and search for "Sugar Snap Fabric Launch."

Sugar Snap Fabric by Melissa Averinos is HOT!

This new line of fabric called Sugar Snap is by the fantastically creative Melissa Averino's (whose blog is yummygoods and worth checking out if you haven't already). This shaggy quilt (aka rag quilt, but I hate the connotation) features her fabric exclusively and is available on my etsy page right now. I was just invited to participate in a launching of her fabric on ebay, so watch out for this item and lots of other great items featuring her fabric (made by other artists) from January 27th to February 14th on ebay!
I also have another shaggy quilt in the works. It features fabrics by some of those favorite designers we all love, including Amy Butler, Heather Bailey, Kaffe Fassett, Pamela Mostek and more. It's all in shades of green -- something we are all missing and hoping for as springs starts to creep up on us!

January's Featured Etsybloggers: Roseworks Jewelry!

As a member of etsybloggers team, I have the privelege of featuring a different artist from our team each month on my blog. This month, we have a talented jeweler. She has two great shops (Roseworks Jewelry and Kindred Spirits Treasures) and a kickin' blog!

One of my favorite pieces from her etsy site is her "Hope" necklace, which features Chinese character for "hope" on a scrabble tile. Check this and lots of other great items out today!!!

Blog Carnival: New Year's Blogolution

What do I have planned for my blog? Well, by putting a list out there I'm committing myself, which is a good thing in my opinion. So, here goes:
1.) Keep up the bloggin': Sounds easy enough, but goal #1 is just to keep the blog going. We'll have a new baby in the house in a few weeks, so blogging won't be at the top of my list for a while.
2.) Add a list of my favorite blogs: I've compiled a pretty awesome list of favorite blogs by designers and crafty people that I would love to share, I just never seem to get around to it. I'm gonna do it within the next 2 months.
3.) Have some giveaways: I think this is a really great way to show appreciation to your readers and to get traffic to your blog and/or etsy page, so I'm going to give this a try. Not sure what the giveaways will be...maybe something handmade, maybe some fat quarters for my fellow quilters out there, maybe a % off my etsy store items. Don't know, but keep an eye out.

So, those are three main things. I don't want to be self-defeating by trying to list too much. There are lots of other things that I want to accomplish on my etsy page and on my flickr page, so gotta leave room for that.

Thanks for reading and hope you will add me to your list of blogs you watch!

Shredded to Snuggly and Sophisticated Perfection

I can't wait to make my next version of this quilt. They are so fun to make and look and feel like a million bucks when they are snipped and washed. This one sold in one day, so it looks like I will have to get back to the sewing machine quickly and keep my etsy shop well stocked with these puppies!

And, stay tuned for a smaller "lovie" version, with satin backing!

Featured Etsybloggers: Holy Cow! It's Spotted Cow Soaps

Holy Cow! The School Food Service Director behind the Etsy shop Spotted Cow Soaps certainly has her act together. She just celebrated her 300th order about a month ago and is hoping to celebrate her 500th order soon too! If that doesn't attest to the quality of her soaps and other body-goodies, the fact that she comes from Vermont should. (It always seems like all good things come from Vermont, doesn't it? Whether it's soap or soapstone, Vermont, apparently has it all!)

She also has a kickin' blog!

Blog Carnival: Spotlight on Fellow Etsyblogger Christmas Item

Still searching for the perfect Christmas gift? Check out SkyGirlStyle's cute red and green accessories for girls.
This former flight attendant seems to have found her place among etsybloggers great crafters!

Blog Carnival: Favorite Thanksgiving Tradition

For me, all other traditions pale in comparison to one critical tradition that goes with all holidays: spending time with family. Being married, you learn to "spread the wealth" in terms of your time with each side of the family, but I know that my husband, my children and I value our time with whomever we are going to be with from our families.
This year, we are excited to be spending time with my "little brother" and his wife in South Carolina, along with my mom and dad. We are sad that we won't be able to hang out with my husband's side of the family and the other members of my family that we will be missing in South Carolina, but they will most definitely be in our hearts that day, as they always are.
In this day and age, what more could we come to value but the people in our lives? I could go without the turkey, without the desserts, without even eating in general, but I could no go without spending time with my family! This year, make sure that whomever you are going to be with this year knows that you feel the same way!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Featured Blogger: An Okie Who Haiki's

Creative people often have lots of interests they like to explore at once, and this featured Etsyblogger is no different. Storybeader (etsy shop and blog) is a writer from Oklahoma who enjoys writing and beading (among other things) and integrates these two talents by writing a haiki for evey necklance she creates. Check out her etsy shop for this beautiful necklace and it's haiki.

My Haiki for Storybeader:

Congratulations,
Storybeader! Go and write--
And me, decorate!

Fluffy, snuggly, shredded quilt!

I'm so excited about how this quilt came out! I've never made a "rag quilt" before, so I looked up the basic technique on the internet, came up with my own pattern and measurements and "poof" this quilt was born. The fabric was given to me by a friend for my birthday and features girly images like cupcakes, booties, x's and o's, flowers and other cute things.

I made this quilt with eight fat quarters for the front, some random whites for layering and getting that thick "ragged" look, an unbleached batting (cut smaller than the block) and a backing from my scraps. I snipped the heck out of it with ragging scissors (Yes, they actually make those). These scissors are essential to a good rag look and your sanity!

These blocks are 6" x 6", perfect for using up your scraps! I sewed a 5/8" seam allowance to give some ragging room. Then, around the entire quilt I sewed a zig zag stitch to stabilize the edge. After two washings and a few trimming of thread, this was the result!

Blog Carnival: What I'm working on....

Hey world,

When my blog group (etsybloggers) came up with this month's blog carnival topic, "what are you working on?" I thought, "Hmmm...the easier answer would be what am I not working on." But, to give you a little taste, here are some photos and some details about some projects I have going on...

Project #1: This is my most ambitious quilt pattern yet. It's a star pattern called "Star Flower" by Elsie M. Campbell. I bought the pattern several years ago and finally started. It's taken many hours to get to this point. Click on the image for more information from Elsie Campbell. There is also applique involved. I'm on block 1 or 8 on that part!

Project #2: This is a project that came about in one of my quilt groups. Our leader finds a block for us to do each month and then we can do whatever with the results, so I combined four of the blocks together. I might add some smaller blocks all the way around the outside as another border. Not sure! You can see each of these blocks on there own at my flickr page. Just click on the image.

Project #3: Matching robes for my daughters' American Girl dolls and them. This will be a Christmas present. Gotta get movin' on this. I have done anything!

Other projects:

A rag-edge quilt with Amy Butler fabric (pictures to follow . . . as soon as I start it).

An original quilt pattern that I have to get published.

A myriad of other things....

That's it!

Blog Carnival: Oriental Salad Recipe

This recipe is the recipe that I have given out more times than any other! I'm actually quite happy to be posting it on my blog so that when certain family members ask for it for the "umpteenth" time, I will no longer have to search for it in some email that I've already sent them. I can just send them to this post. That being said, here is my recipe for the best oriental salad you'll ever try:

1 head Napa cabbage, finely shredded
2 bunches green onions (optional)

Saute in 3 tbsp of butter until golden brown:
1 package of broken up ramen noodles (the flavor packet is used in the dressing)
2 oz. sesame seeds
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Drain and cool on papertowel

TO MAKE THE DRESSING
Bring to a boil:
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
3/4 cup vege oil
2 TBSP soy sauce
season pack from oriental flaver pack from ramen noodle package

I like to keep that boiling for a while, until it starts to look a little like it is bubbling up and forming a caramel consistency. That way it won't completely separate after it is cooled. Cool this completely -- in the fridge for at least an hour before serving is best.

Ready to EAT! Don't mix the crunchies and the dressing with the cabbage until you are ready to eat or it will get soggy.

This serves about 8 people depending on the size of the cabbage and how much everyone loves this salad!

Featured Etsyblogger: Baby Friendly Beads

Like so many stay-at-home moms, the woman behind Etsy shops Baby Friendly Beads and Mama's Magic Studio is an overachiever. Her blog is packed full of information and easily-relatable stories that can help just about anyone get a chuckle or smile about everyday life with kids!

She has lots of useful and innovative products including this bracelet that helps you keep track of your breastfeeding schedule:

She also has necklaces for your baby to play with while breastfeeding or bottlefeeding. What a great idea, huh? Check her out!!

Congratulations, Jen!