Craft Fair

Yesterday I participated in my first craft fair. I'm not sure what I expected, but I can tell you I was a little disappointed. I found out later that the fair was not promoted at all AND it was on the same day that a huge craft fair happens every year just a couple towns over. I sold two latte cozies, and 3 of my crocheted washcloths for a grand total of $19... I paid $20 for my table. I suppose craft fairs are pretty hit and miss. You never know if you'll sell or not. It seemed that most of the folks who did come were only there to browse. It probably didn't help that I was selling quilts, bags, and other more expensive items while being sandwiched between a lady selling $2 hair bows and another lady selling $6 fleece scarves.

I have also been rather discouraged by Etsy lately. Lizze and I have not had a sale in the shop for months. Yes, months. Since I'm still having to pay fees even though nothing is being sold, I decided to try opening a shop on Zibbet.com. They don't charge any fees if you stick with their basic seller program. I listed all the things I took to the craft fair including my newest creation, iPad sleeves. I have made a couple of these as custom orders already for devices other than iPads. They can be made for any tablet, laptop, or eReader out there. All I need to know are the measurements and your fabric choices.

Click the button below for a link to the new shop. I'd appreciate your feedback!

Mini Quilt Challenge

This weekend there is something exciting going on. A mini quilt challenge on amylouwho's blog! I REALLY love mini quilts! Something about the instant gratification (well, more instant than a bed quilt that is). I have been getting ready for a craft fair so I didn't have a lot of time to put together a new quilt for this challenge. I have several mini quilts that I have made recently though so I chose one of those.

I used the churn dash pattern for this mini quilt. The blocks are each 6 inches with a small border. The finished size is 15" x 15".

Funny thing is that I have no idea what fabrics were used for the pink, and the floral borders. I used scraps that I got from a friend and I loved how they all look togther. They grey print is Sunkissed by Sweetwater as is the binding.

For the backing I used a print from Tula Pink's Parisville line, another of my absolute favorites.

I chose to do very simple in-the-ditch quilting as to not distract from the blocks themselves.

I really love this mini quilt so much. It shows that a traditional block can be made to look modern and you can mix lines! Some people are afraid of mixing lines, I think, but you should have no fear!

Please hop over to the Mini Quilt Challenge and enter your own mini quilt. It's open all weekend and she has some really great prizes too. Thanks so much for visiting!

Something New

Many of you don't know that I am a pattern hoarder. It's true. I have a pattern for nearly everything. It wouldn't be so bad if I actually used them though. Tonight I was determined that I would find a pattern, cut it up, and make something new and I did just that. Now, although I am proud that I actually used one of many patterns, I was also reminded why I never do. The pattern I chose was for a small zipper pouch. It took me three hours to make it. Three hours. And it's nowhere near perfect. The instructions were difficult to follow and I know there MUST be an easier way to make this thing.

Here's the finished product. I used grey linen and some little scraps of Terrain. It did turn out pretty cute, but I will probably never make another one unless I figure out a simpler way to do it.

I have had a couple of custom orders recently which I think is awesome! The iPad cases I have been making lately are perfect for custom orders since it is so easy for me to change the size to accommodate any tablet, laptop, or reader such as a Nook or Kindle.

This one fits a MacBook

And this one was for a Dell Netbook

Last, but certainly not least, is my Misfit hoop. I have been promising to share pictures when my partner got it, and she did. I made this hoop for Amanda. She loves gnomes so when I found this pattern I thought it was perfect. 

I also made her a hoop bag to go with it. She is always doing so much for other people so I thought she deserved something extra. I have yet to receive a hoop, but when I do I'll be sure to post plenty of photos!

Birthday Quilt

Next weekend is my grandmas birthday. My grandma is the sweetest lady I have ever known, and I love her dearly. I have made many quilts over the last several years but have never made one for her.

A few months ago I put together a Jelly Roll Race quilt top. I used Shangri-La by 3 Sisters. I had the jelly roll for a long time and loved the colors in the fabric, but never could figure out what to make with it. After I put the top together I folded it up and it sat on my shelf for quite some time.

Once I finally got started quilting it, the entire time I kept thinking of my grandma. The colors in these fabrics reminded me of her and how she decorated her home. I had meant to finish up this quilt and list it for sale, but I couldn't help but feel this quilt was meant for her.

I finished attaching the binding last night while watching 'V for Vendetta' one of my favorite movies. It was November 5th after all so I kind of had to watch it.

Here it is all finished - please ignore the fold lines. I still need to wash it, but it will be all ready to go this week. Happy birthday, Grandma. I love you!

For the Love of...

My friend Sharon just started a new linky party, and I just had to join in. She was doing the Fave 5 Friday posts that I did for awhile, and this new one will be replacing it. As much as I loved doing Fave 5 Friday, I'm not very good at remembering to post on a certain day every week. With the new link party we have all weekend to link up, and there are themes! I'm especially excited about this!

This week's theme is home. Home is something that can be described in so many different ways and I'm interested to see what everyone posts for this theme.

Seattle is technically not my home. I live about 30 miles south. But I love Seattle. I love the feel of the city and all of the things there are to do and see. However, raising a family in a big city just isn't for me, hence, the suburbs.

This is a photo of the few fall colored trees I have in my yard. In western Washington we are more known for our evergreens (pine trees) which I LOATHE. Sap and pine needles are icky. I love these few lone trees that I get to watch change color.

A huge part of home for me revolves around food. I love to cook and we eat dinner at the table as a family every night. It's the one time of day where I know we will all be together and reconnect.

This is my home away from home in the summer.

And my favorite picture is this one. I asked my son to draw a picture of what home meant to him. This is our house with all 6 of us in it. And the dog. 

Click this button, head over to Sharon's blog and check out all the links. You have until Sunday night to add your own post as well. Show us what 'home' means to you.

Handmade Holidays

So... it's officially November. Less than two months until Christmas which is making me freak out a little. I have decided to make myself a list of all the handmade gifts I hope to give this year and set a schedule of when I will make them. I am sticking with simple gifts. No one will be getting a quilt from me, I just don't have that kind of time. But I can make a wall hanging or two, and a few market bags!

In my family we only give gifts to the children. We decided awhile ago that if buying or making something for a grown-up will be a hindrance to buying or making something for one of the kids then we just shouldn't do it. Many folks are in the same boat that we are, and are struggling financially. Christmas can be more stress than fun, and it shouldn't be that way.

If you can sew, there are all kinds of things you can make that will be wonderful gifts that take very little time or money. Today, November 1st, is the first day of the 5th annual Handmade Holidays over on the Sew, Mama, Sew blog. All month long they will have new projects and tutorials of things that you can make as gifts for everyone in your family! Of course, not everyone appreciates a handmade gift, and to them I say "NO GIFT!!!" because I'm just mean like that.

I urge you to check out Handmade Holidays and challenge yourself to make a handmade gift for everyone on your list. Even something as simple as a coffee cozy to go along with that Starbucks gift card you give your co-worker every year, or whatever! It will be wonderful and you'll be amazed at how many people gasp and say "you made that?!?! How awesome!"

And because a blog post isn't complete without a photo, here is a totally unrelated picture of my kiddos all dressed up in their Halloween costumes last night: