Grand Opening!

A big thank you to a lot of my friends - you know who you are. Because of your encouragement, Amanda and I established our Etsy shop last week which is now open for business. We have already received and shipped our first order! Check us ...out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/eStudio60. This is a work in progress, so check back often to see if our inventory has changed. We love custom orders, too. So, if you don't see what you need, just contact us.  If you like what you see, tell your friends; if you don't, tell me!

 

Now, get to shopping!

Pass it on!

Spending time with my daughter this week, I told her one of my big plans for the Busy Barn is planning a time when I can bring her daughter and another granddaughter (ages 5 and 4) to my house for a few days of sewing lessons.  I can remember my mom initially teaching me how to embroider and later she and my grandmother helping me learn to sew and crochet.  My mother-in-law even helped with the crocheting instruction.  Those are very special memories for me!

That's a legacy I want to pass on to my family.  When my daughter was about 5 and my older son was about 3, they helped me with a large cross-stitch project for my mother for Christmas one year.  I had the project in a frame which they would sit beneath; I would put the needle in the top of the project, they would take turns pulling it through and sending it back to me through the appropriate hole on the back of the project.  It took forever!  It took much longer than if I had just done it by myself, but then I wouldn't have those memories and the project would not have been as precious.

I didn't learn to crochet until after our youngest was born.  Once I was fairly accomplished, the kids would take turns sitting on my lap, holding the crochet hook, while I moved their little hands through the yarn.  Again, wonderful memories!

Back in May I had the opportunity to do the same thing with a couple of my grandkids.  I just can't explain how it makes me feel.  Although I hopefully do not compare to the Grinch in any other way, I certainly can relate when his heart grew and grew and grew because of love!

Now, to get that Busy Barn finished.............!

Busy Barn

Between family vacation and a few extended days away with the hubby, I'm itching to get back to my sewing room.  By the way, my wonderful husband is actually building me a new sewing room which we call the Busy Barn - because he said I better stay very busy in that barn after all the time and effort he is putting into it.  I am excited to move into my new digs!  It should be soon - I hope!

I've got a lot of projects on the horizon - a T-shirt quilt, a poodle skirt, maybe a pint-sized Pink Ladies jacket and more baby stuff. My brain tends to kick into overdrive in the planning stages when I can't actually be sewing. 

My daughter and I are going to get together tomorrow.  Besides some quality girl time, we are going to work on setting up an Etsy shop, so look for more info on that in the near future.

In the meantime, remember if you can dream it up, we'll try to make it happen!

Success!!

I mentioned in a previous post about my sewing DNA.  I had found a pattern that I thought resulted in an ugly end-product and decided to try my hand at making my own pattern.  I told you I would let you know how it turned out.

Well, the soon-to-be-mom said the changing pad cover was perfect.  It fit just right and she loved it!  Whew!  Now, if I can just remember how I did that.........

Reflection

Back from vacation and all the laundry is finally done!  I wouldn't say that was "loads" of fun but at least it's finished.  Whew!

So, today, I'm back in the sewing room (albeit in my pajamas) trying to mend a few things from vacation.  A button here, repairing a rip there, etc.

I have managed to finish one project and now I'm having to rip out a hem and redo a project.  That's never fun but it always gives me time to think.  I think that is what I love about sewing - and crafting, in general.  It gives my mind a vacation.  It gives me a chance to be creative, yes, but also reflective and prayerful. 

Thank you, God, for the brief moments of quiet and solitude.

Post vacation post

From mountain vacation to mountains of laundry - just a reminder of the great times we shared on vacation!  We did have a great time.  And, as posted earlier we did do crafts (although not as many as I planned) and we did have a tea party.  I really planned it for the granddaughters because the 5-year-old heard her brother say a few weeks ago, that he was looking forward to his team (baseball) party and she mistook that for "tea" party.  She was so disappointed, I planned the tea party in the woods.  As it turned out, older brother loved it and called it "Epic!"  It may have had something to do with his top hat and handmade necktie.  :)

The girls had boas and tiaras; they all had ring pops; we decorated cookies and made a special punch that I thought was supposed to layer in colors (a Pinterest flop). Oh well, it was tasty!

We had a great time and made some wonderful memories.  I guess I need to go count my blessings along with the loads of laundry!  Hope everyone takes time to make memories and count your blessings, too.