sweet jessie

I'm home from Minnesota, and the trip apparently exhausted me, as I climbed into bed last night at 7:30 pm to finish a book and head into sweet dreamland - thanks to my sweet husband putting the kids to bed for me!  Did I tell you I brought them with me on this little adventure?

Well, the book signing was so much fun - there were a dozen or so contributors to the book milling about (as well as a publicist from Storey), and we all got to chat quite a bit and sign each other's books - and sign some other people's books, too - I really think that everyone should have a day in their life where they are continuously asked for their "autograph" - although that's not exactly how anyone asked.  It was more like the last day of school when everyone goes around with their yearbook and asks you to sign it.  Something like that.  Although without the "Have a great summer! Call me!" vibe.   While talking about the blog, I accidentally signed one book as "sweet jessie!" oops.  The store was packed, though, and we got asked to sign books quite a bit.  There was a line out the door most of the afternoon, and the book sold out early in the day!   People still waited in line to order advance copies!

And I know there are lovely photos floating around somewhere, but I don't have any yet, because I dragged my camera bag all the way to Minnesota (did I mention I had the kids with me, and all of us checked luggage, plus I had my carry on, my purse, and my CAMERA BAG).... I even remembered to bring the battery charger.  But when I got to the party and someone took a picture of me with the two editors of the book (Hi Trish, Hi Rebecca!), and I sweetly asked "will you take one on my camera, too?" and I handed him my camera and we posed, and he positioned the camera, and then the error message came up: No Card.

I forgot my flash card.  Because it was in my new camera on my desk at home.

Which is why I don't have any photos of the book signing and my very bad hair day... until that sweet Rebecca sends me some of hers.  At which point I will share them with you.

Don't forget to enter to win a copy of the book!  I'll even sign it for you ; ) 

xoxo

ps:  Rebecca came through (I knew she would!) and sent me some photos.  Now, let me say I knew it was a bad hair day... but not until it was already too late.  At some point during the party I excused myself to use the ladies' room and realized how horrid my hair looked.  And static-y, too.  But the photos prove it is far worse than I imagined.  You see, my entire family (son, daughter, husband) have asked that I grow my hair out.  My son told me just the other day "you look more prettier with long hair."  And so I've begun the long process of growing it out.  What was once a very cute cut is now one that is entirely unpleasant.  I apologize for that. The photo of me with the two editors of the book is here.

So I told you how I received my package from Amazon - the one containing my pre-ordered copy of  One Yard Wonders.  The very next day, the doorbell rang again.

It would appear that in my excitement to receive this crafty wonder in a timely fashion, I pre-ordered it not once, but twice (once in April, once in August).  And so, my friends, I am left with an extra copy.
And I would like to give it to you!

To enter for a chance to win, please leave a comment here.  Tell me about your favorite something: it could be a color, a song, a poem, a quote... anything that you refer to as your favorite!  You must include your email in the body of your comment.  For an extra chance to win, either blog or twitter about the giveaway - then just come back here and leave another comment with a link to your blog post or tweet.  I will be generous here:  I'll let you do both. Finally, for a FOURTH chance to win, follow this blog (link over on the right-hand sidebar)

I'm heading out of town for the release party of said book title, so this 'contest' will remain open until next Thursday, November 12th at 7pm.

Until then, happy tweeting/blogging/following/commenting...

xoxo

If you're reading this right now in some sort of reader, might I kindly ask you to pop out for a moment and explore the new blog design?  I've literally worn out a little pointer finger sized mark in the silver finish of my wireless mouse this week working on it.  Come on out, and kick the tires - let me know what you think!

xoxo
ps:  I'll be back later with a giveaway!!!

My doorbell rang 15 minutes ago, and I tiptoed out into the hallway... I didn't want to answer the door if it was someone I knew; I'm still in my pajamas and my house is a wreck - I've been waayyy too busy sewing to care about the state of my kitchen this week.  But it was my friendly UPS man, and he doesn't wait for me to answer; He just leaves my packages on the little table outside my door.  I quickly opened the door like the recluse I'm becoming and slunk back inside with my treasure.  I was so happy to find my copy of One Yard Wonders inside that brown box.

This book is a monster.  It's huge!  It's filled with over 100 sewing project, and pull out patterns!  Best of it, it's spiral bound.  I love the spiral method of binding when it comes to my sewing books, don't you?

Anyhow, I'm sure it seems a little braggy here to write of my latest publishing accomplishment, but I just get so giddy every time I see my name in bound printed form.  It's just good fun, plain and simple.

And in case you don't have your copy of the book yet, and I'm assuming you don't because I pre-ordered mine months ago, and still just received it just 17 minutes ago, I will share a picture of the project I contributed to the book.  There are so many other pictures I'd like to share, but,
1)  I'm not sure how I could narrow it down to just  a few photos, as there are so many lovely projects in the book; and
2) I'm sure the fine folks at Crafty Planet and Storey Publishing would like you to buy your own copy!

Crafty Planet is hosting a One Yard Wonders Release Party in Minneapolis this weekend, and they asked if I'd like to come.  And you know what, I would like to come!  So I'm off to Minneapolis for the party this weekend.  If you're in Minneapolis, too, you should meet me there!  Maybe there will be cake...

xoxo

Saturday night, we set our clocks back an hour for the end of daylight saving time, so I woke up bright and early Sunday morning. There was frost on the ground, and it was sooo cold, but I knew the flea market would still go on. I bundled up in my warm winter coat, grabbed a large thermos of coffee, and headed out by 6:30 am....

There were only a handful of dealers at the market, but still I had hope of finding just one more treasure before the end of the flea market season.

I found a tarp on the ground laden with tools. I always like when tarps are laid out on the ground - the best deals are always found on top of a tarp on the ground!

Nestled among the tools, I found these.  Be still my heart.

Good morning, lovelies!  I hope you had a safe and wonderful Halloween.  I've got big plans with my sewing machine today, but I just wanted to stop in and say hello and show you the amazing sunsets we get around here - the above photo is totally unedited- taken Friday evening.  Gorgeous.

Have a happy week!

xoxo
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I wasn't quite prepared to tackle any articles of clothing yet, which I'm actually kind of happy about because I just received a link to these amazing tutorials at My Mama Made It, and I'm definitely using those to restyle some t-shirts.  However,  I did manage to create this ruffle pillow for my bedroom (the pillow behind it is from Anthropologie).  I used some natural colored linen, and a strip of home dec fabric to make the ruffle.  It took about twenty minutes to complete the pillow - except for hand stitching it closed.  I love it.  Even more than that, though - I love my new camera that took this picture in very poor lighting conditions.  My husband spoiled me rotten for my birthday, and as soon as I can figure out the home lighting setup, I'll take pictures of all of the new items I've been creating for the holidays:  think lacy bits and vintage baubles and doilies and tones of plum, mustard, grey, and pink....

Happy day to all of you...

xoxo

I'm in love with half of the shirts in the J. Crew catalog right now.  I think I actually love the looks in their kids' section even more than I love the women's clothes - maybe they offer super plus sizes in the girl's collection?  Well, either way, I hate to spend so much money - or really any money at all - on things I'm pretty sure I can make myself.  I'm sure (or at least hopeful) that with a combination of some of the following tutorials, I could make almost everything in the catalog that I covet.  So with that in mind, my friends, I give you the Ruffle/Floral roundup:

Ruffle Front Shirt via Make it and Love it
Ruffle Pillow at Under the Sycamore via this tutorial at You Can Make it
Ruffle Necklace at Oh So Happy Together
Ruffle Pillow at Floral Showers
Floral Collar at Katiedid
Ruffle "Necklace" Waffle Shirt at Craftster
Rolled Roses from Portabello Pixie
Fabric Rosettes at Plumtickled
Frayed Rosettes from Made by the Mama Monster

If you've seen another similar tutorial elesewhere, please leave a link in the comment section!

xoxo

Congratulations, Krista!  Please email me with your mailing address so I can get your garland shipped off to you!

And a big 'thank you' to all of you who entered - I appreciate you stopping by and spending a few minutes of your day here!

Now I have some birthday celebrating to attend to....

xoxo

I think the things we carry around on a daily basis tell so much about our lives.  I remember the days when my bag was filled with college papers and packs of cigarettes (yes, I know!), then years later when it was filled with sippy cups and goldfish crackers and baby wipes.  I distinctly remember the time when I found rocks in my purse (something my son surely handed to me for safekeeping). And now, well - come have a look for yourself  (before I fill it up with receipts and gum wrappers) - today at Melissa Loves!

I showed you the super sneaky peek a little while ago... and now I can reveal the secret project for Kitschy Digitals embroidery patterns: vintage cameras!  I stitched up these samples for the new designs, and am so happy with how they turned out.  The patterns will be available soon at Kitschy Digitals!

Did I ever tell you how I believed I had a great idea last year when I ordered 750 pink bakery boxes in three different sizes?  What a deal - I got them wholesale!  And only paid something like $80 to have them drop shipped on a pallet!!  Those mothers sure are cute, but they are h-e-a-v-y.  I planned to wrap every single gift in them last Christmas, to use them for custom orders, and to package all of my baked goods ever so sweetly in their pink goodness. 

So now I'm down to about 712 pink bakery boxes. Small, medium, and large.  The big ones would be too hard to mail out, but the little guys travel fairly easily, and so I'm putting a few of them in my lonely little shop.  Why should I keep all of the pink love to myself?? 

xoxo