What a Crazy Few Weeks

I was finally feeling on track; adding a few blog post, listing more frequently in the shop and even updating my Flick'r account. Then..... Memorial Day madness. I forgot how much work it is to travel with 2 little ones. Three days packing and almost three days unpacking. However, it was definitely worth the work. We spent a lovely weekend with family in DC and much to my surprise, I may have a water baby on my hands. By day three she walked right out to the pool after breakfast, took of her pajamas and jumped right in. Thank goodness for privacy fences!  Although, now she keeps asking if she can have another "naked party". Hopefully, she won't attempt a repeat performance when we begin frequenting the local pool this summer.

Anyway, it seems that the chaos has finally died down and I can get back to the daily grind, which I love so much. Seriously, I'm not kidding! I wake up every morning, excited to get to work. Now, if there were only 30 hours in a day. I'm afraid the challenges of working from home, with the little ones underfoot, are beginning to get the best of me. Time for a new plan of attack ladies. Any suggestions?

I guess that's enough pointless babble for today! Happy crafting and collecting to you all!

Why Not Wednesday: Yarn Bombing, I Am So Inspired!

If anything was ever going to make me take an interest in crocheting or knitting, THIS IS IT!

I stumbled upon a few amazing shots of yarn bombing today and immediately, it became a new obsession of mine. What is yarn bombing you may ask? Simply put, knit graffiti! Yes, that is correct, knit graffiti. Beautifully and artfully designed knits, decorating some pretty unusual things including trees, sculptures, street sign and even an entire bus! I can't believe what these crafty men and women have come up with. Take a look for yourself. I've included links for each photo so you can head to the original site to read more.

An amazing Tree Cozy by artist Carol Hummel for the Cleveland Heights Art Competition in 2005.

A truly cozy bus covered by artist Magda Sayeg in Mexico City 

via Yarn Bombing blog

These adorable ducks were released into the open water by artist Alison Friday.

There are some amazing sites and blogs dedicated to "Improving the urban landscape one stitch at a time" as elegantly stated by Leanne and Mandy of  Yarn Bombing. Just use your Google search bar to start exploring the worldwide phenomenon of yarn bombing. I'm just getting started myself, and can't wait to spend some time exploring all of the kitschy and beautiful installations by knitting wonders from around the globe! Who knows, maybe learning to knit is in my future.

Monday Coffee Break: My Favorite Seaside Finds

I've wanted to get back to my Coffee Break Monday post and finally found a little time. I've never been an overly prepared person, and tend to write spontaneously. (Just in case you hear someone laughing right now, that's just my sister, implying  this is the understatement of a lifetime. Sad thing is, she's absolutely right!) So, unless I find a few spare minutes on a Monday, these posts may not be a regular series until my little ones head off to school. Currently, they are only 9 months old and 2 1/2, so I have a few years to go before that happens. Anyway, with no further ado....

Coffee Break Monday: My Favorite Seaside Finds Hiding Within the Pages of Etsy....

First, this incredible Turkish bath towel by  TurkishBath . Handwoven and 100% linen, this little beauty sends my imagination wandering to a pristine seaside location, where I bask in the glorious sun. For me, nothing says luxury like an amazing linen towel!

Even if you don't live within a short drive of  crashing waves and relaxing oceans breezes, you may just be able to feel the calming energy of them, wearing these gorgeous earrings from Star of the East. I own a beautiful necklace from this mother, daughter duo and can't say enough about how wonderful their jewelry is. Everything in the Sea Urchin Collection is made from crustacean they find right outside their front door.

Finally, if art  is more your muse, this ethereal photograph by Bespoke Modern Photography is sure to infuse your decor with a serene seaside air. It is gorgeous enough to fit into any abode, contemporary or classical, cottage or urban. I don't think there is a photograph in her shop I haven't fallen in love with.

Until next time... keep brewing.

I Just Fell in Love

I came across this great lot of antique buttons a few years ago and just recently rediscovered them, tucked away in my inventory. Finding things you forgot you had is ALWAYS so much fun! So, after sorting and cleaning them, I decided to put together some cute sets for the shop. I photographed them among some of my favorite seaside treasures and am pretty happy with the result.

My only concern is the fact that three buttons are gold and one is silver. At first I wasn't sure, but now I really like them. It makes the set look a bit less contrived and definitely less traditional.  What do you think?

Saturday's Vintage Freebie

I was nostalgically fawning over some of my old product photos this past week. Oh how I miss some of the items I sold over the past year. This got me thinking that maybe others would like to see some of my favorites. Even though most of these items are no longer avail. for purchase,  now you can download a free digital collage sheet and use the paper version for all your crafting projects. If your not a crafter you can use it as wallpaper or just save the file to add to your library of fabric designs. Click away, all you like. I just ask that you do not reproduce this download, in whole or part, for purposes of resale. This jpeg file is  8 1/2" x 11".  If you would prefer it as a png file, leave a comment and I will upload a png version as well. If you have any problems downloading the image, let me know.

I'd love to see what you create from these simple images. Enjoy!

NEW! Fun Vintage Fat Quarter Bundles

I just started adding these adorable fat quarter bundles of vintage flocked  and swiss dot fabric to the shop today. I've listed a few in the past, but am in the process of creating lots of new mixes. Each comes bundled with 1+ yard of ribbon and a sweet vintage applique. Here's the first one I'll be adding today! Quantities are limited as to what fabrics I currently have in stock, but I'm always on the look out for new additions. Also, if anyone is interested, I can sell straight yardage of many of these fabrics.

An Old Space Revived: Creating A More Functional Workspace

Well, I finally did it! I've been wanting to create a pretty little space to call my own for quite some time. The attic has always been my workspace, but over the past few years it has become increasingly cluttered. It seemed to become a dumping ground for extra inventory, Christmas decorations, outgrown childrens' clothing and anything else that didn't have a permanent home. After receiving 2 custom orders, and not having enough space to spread out and fill them, I decided it was time to finally make my space function the way I knew it could.

Next, the dilemma of redoing a space on a shoestring budget. It was actually quite fun only using things I already have. Thank goodness for ingenuity and a retired neighbor with lots of fabulous tools. Believe it or not, I didn't spend a dime.

Here's a list of my reclaimed supplies:
leftover paint
reclaimed 2 X 4s (from walls we removed in the basement)
old plywood that I used to use as a table top at antique shows
2 doors (from a cabinet that was left behind when we purchased the house)
vintage faded fabric (not fit to sell) and some newer remnants (leftover from past projects)
random metal tins
leftover scrapbooking paper
a few home dec items we aren't using
5 bookcases I've had for years (only $20.00 per section from Wal-Mart and  Big Lots)

O.K. I think that's about it. I put in a little elbow grease and here is the outcome. It's not perfect or completely finished, but so far I'm pretty pleased with the results.

I lined up my bookcases on two walls to help store the inventory that is currently listed in my shop, as well as some projects I'm working on.

Next I upholstered one of the cabinet doors to make an over sized ironing board and painted the other to use as counter space and a cutting table. The base is a simple 2 x 4 frame with a fabric skirt. This gives me plenty of space to keep extra stock or items that I want to get ready for sale. I can store quite a bit under this huge table. It's almost 4' by 7'.

Under the windows I created another skirted 2 x 4 frame and topped it with a painted plywood counter top. It's the perfect place for my computer and has a pretty nice view as well. There is plenty of hidden storage here too, but since there is a radiator under this table, I think I'll leave it empty for heat flow, especially in the winter.

Some industrial wire shelving currently holds my shipping supplies and some of my inventory. I'm hoping to eventually swap this out for a few more inexpensive bookshelves. It would definitely be prettier, but functions quite well for now. The fabric panel conceals a nice size closet that stores our off season clothing and a few other odds and ends. Sitting pretty in the corner is my hand me down sewing machine that is currently out of service, a.k.a. broken. That's o.k. though, between work and the little ones, I don't even have time to consider what sewing projects I would like to start.

My last addition was a nice little area to start taking all my photographs. I have some new lights that I've been wanting to try for a while. Usually, I take all my pictures outside, but am going to give indoor photography a try, and even made myself a little photo box from a tutorial I found online.

So, this is my new little space to get away to and hopefully get much more work accomplished. Now all I have to do is put a lock on the door to keep little hands from moving everything around. My 2 1/2 yr. old is convinced this is her new playroom. Secretly, I feel like it's my new playroom too.... and I'm happy to share it with her!