Waiting and Waiting...

Another day… STILL unpacking. I called today to check up on our furniture which was scheduled to be here two weeks ago. They told me it wouldn’t get here till Sept 29th!! Yikes! Looks like we’ll be living out of boxes and suitcases for a while yet. Sigh.

Whoooo.. they heart me, they really heart me! My shop is showing that 100 people have 'hearted' my shop. I know for many 100 isn't a lot, but it's a landmark that can cause happiness!

I’ve a need for shelving, of some kind. I’ve designed a cutting table that my dad is working on building for me, and the ‘legs’ of the table are similar to bookshelves (he’s not exactly sure when he’ll get it finished and have the free time to visit me, he lives 6 hours away). So I was kind of banking on those for storage, now all of my fabric is organized in large Rubbermaid bins, which work somewhat successfully, though it’s a pain to get the fabric in there in such a way that you can easily find everything. My poor ironing board is acting as a cutting table, and shelf as well as its traditional use as an ironing board.

Another day, another bag for Facebook (this one will be uploaded to the group soon).


Sold a bag last night, it’s always thrilling, like winning the lottery. My husband thinks I’m nuts, I run into the living room (or wherever he’s hiding) and jump up and down, spin in a circle and announce my success. Yes, I’m aware I resemble a 5 year old.

It’s a little ‘odd’ to move to a small town, where everyone KNOWS who you are because you’re new and they were somewhat expecting you. They don’t seem too worried that we know that they know who we are. It makes me feel a mixture of amusement and paranoia.

Back to Kenny (the Kenmore sewing machine), I’ve got two diaper bags to finish (YAY for having orders to fill!!)

Brownies

In the midst of sewing and promoting and unpacking, I decided to do some baking.
Here are some brownies I had wanted to try making for a while. It’s the first time I’d baked with the new oven, and every oven bakes differently. So they’re not perfect like Martha’s.

But they looked pretty good, and taste fantastic. Mmmmm.

I made a few new bags to put on Facebook, hopefully people will like them enough to buy. Christmas is coming up; I can’t really imagine finding cheaper and more unique gifts. I guess I’ll have to wait and see.

"Cherry Tree"

"Trendy"

We didn’t have much furniture when we moved, only a book shelf and a bed. Hence, we had to purchase a lot of new furniture, which is exciting. Though, we’ve been waiting a long time for it to arrive, so while it feels like we’ve been moved for a while now, it’s taking a long time to truly settle. Hopefully it’ll get here soon.

Sunshiny Day

A colourful bag for a beautiful day.
The sun is shining, there’s a slight breeze, just enough to make the leaves rustle. There isn’t a cloud in the sky from my view, and the sun is HOT. I just finished photographing and listing this guy on Etsy and Facebook (I’ve made two so far).

There’s some great colours on the inside of this bag that reminds me of summer, and late night adventures into downtown St. John’s. I think it still works for fall, it’ll definitely make those winter days a little brighter.

You can buy it either on Etsy, or check it out at Facebook.

As for the sun, in a way it’s too beautiful to stay indoors, but my credit card statement is too terrifying to not take this time to create new things. Yet, look how tempting the view is from my back yard.
I’m very excited to announce that the lovely Kara has decided to have her wedding the 8th of November!


I’m so excited to have the opportunity to help her with her wedding, like she helped me with mine. I’ve finished making flight reservations and only have a few plans left to make before then. So excited to be spending a week back in my ‘home town’ and enjoy some late night adventures, visit my handsome nephew, and eat mounds of nachos.

Back to the grind, see if we can make a dent in that credit card statement!

Finally all Moved...

Wow…
It’s been a week (that felt more like a month) of suitcase living and frantically searching boxes for those ‘misplaced’ packed items.

(a shot of our U-Haul driving behind us)

We’re in a bigger house (some photos to come eventually), which is great in some ways, and a little weird having everything distributed so much around the space. Like my husband who has set up ‘office’ in the basement, while I set up my studio in the main floor. I’ve got great vocal cords, and can yell better then most, but in order to actually talk to him, I’ve got to walk down into the big-empty-dark basement.
(So happy to have all of my sewing things in one space tho)
After a whole week (half of which was spent holidaying at the in-laws), we’re finally settling in. There’s still some furniture to arrive, lots of pictures to be hung, and even more to be organized.

(A Sunset view from the In-Law's living room, Saturday night)

I'm Moving

Seem's like it's been 'the' topic lately. Quite sorry to bore you, I guess seeing my world is in chaos with boxes and too small a place to actually have those boxes, I have little else to rant about. But alas, it's actually here (almost). My husband goes to pick up the truck tomorrow morning, we have a few people coming to help us lug the boxes up the steps on our deck (we're in a basement apartment) and onto our U-Haul. We then make the 12 hour drive to our new town.

I took the time to inform my shop/customers/viewers that I'll be away from etsy for a few days. I hope it's sufficient, and does the trick without 'sending people away.'

Obviously, I want people to come back. I hope to get the Internet man out on Wednesday, but they're always fickle, so it may be Thursday, and heaven forbid Friday! I'll try to communicate my desperation and dire need over the phone.

We had to say goodbye to some terrific people today.
The hardest thing is saying goodbye to fantastic girls like these, and others that I really wish I'd had a group picture with.

Oddly enough, the oldest person pictured (myself) is almost the shortest (in the white). I get mistaken for a teen all the time. (I know, I know, it'll pay off when I'm 40 and still look 20ish?).
These girls, and several others, are my duckies, and I'll always love them and be available to them, even if its not in person. It's amazing how mature and gifted each of them are, I can only imagine the great things they'll all accomplish (I'm tearing up thinking about it).

A few more loose items to pack, and try to get the coffee out of my system and force myself to sleep. Early rise tomorrow, and a looong drive.

I'll be back, pray that the Internet fairies are good to me! Thanks for reading!!

Building Box Towers

We’re still in the throws of packing, it’s terrible. My husband called it a maze of boxes. He’s pretty close. We’re living in a small two bedroom apartment and it’s amazing how much stuff you can fit into two closets and kitchen cabinets. There’s also our obsession for books and DVD’s. We don’t have much furniture to move, this home was furnished much to my dismay (I’d love to furnish a home to my own taste) and much to the relief of our bank account.

The in-laws are packing wizards, and next to them I’m ashamed of my lack of will and ability to fill a box.

While I’m still attempting to promote and stock my shop, I realize that I’m going to have to ‘close’ my store for a few days, while we’re relocating and waiting for the handy internet fairies to pay us a visit. The lack of connection with my ‘business’ makes me uneasy, but I’m aware that it’s necessary. Hopefully it’ll only be a 5-6 day break, maybe less.

Thursday evening I sat down and decided to make some little tags to go on the inside of my bags. They’re simple, easy to do and have a nice ‘feel’ to them.

Yesterday the teens got together and had a going away party for us. I’m really going to miss them and their distinct personalities. We officially say good bye tomorrow, I’m not looking forward to that.

Nothing but Pink Skies!!!

After much pain, and debating with myself, and with a sad little pit in my stomach, I’ve decided to sell the bag I featured yesterday. I went to the store, picked up a little more of the fabric, and although I don’t have many of those buttons left, I convinced myself I’d like to share this bag with someone, whoever chooses to purchase it. I’ve named it Lydia Pixie Pleated Bag, it seemed like Lydia was an appropriately and naturally beautiful name.

The In-laws are officially here. We had a long day of shopping for the few random things we needed (seeing as the community we’re moving to is much more remote then this one and doesn’t have certain amenities). We had to drive to pick them up (the bus they took doesn’t come all the way to our community), here are some shots from traveling to get them yesterday.

I've a small obession (ok, maybe huge) with clouds, and the sky. There's something so majestic about it all. And I was really excited to see this one lone pink cloud as we were driving.

As the sun continued to set, the rest of the sky began to take on the pink hue.

The obsessive person that I am.. I continued to keep taking pictures. Because it just looked so beautiful!

And I'm really sorry I don't have anything MORE interesting to share today, and you may want to be grateful that I didn't post ALL the photos I took of the sky. :o)

One last one..

It was well past dinner when we reached Ryan's parents so we stopped to eat. YAY. Here's the Father-in-Law, and the Husband.

(I told him to look at me, he doesn't appear amused by my picture taking).

And as I've done every other day this past two weeks, I'm off to pack more things into boxes.

Everybody needs a Pillow

I made some happy little cushions for our new house.

Yesterday I made this guy, and fell madly in love. I thought I could sell him, but I don’t think I can. Sometimes you make something that you just can’t let go of.

I’ve a Weekend version of this Pixie purse cut and ready to be made. Hopefully I’ll be able to let go of that one. If not I’ll have to go on a hunt for more of the unbleached canvas, that costs a mint.

Yesterday, I was invited out to lunch. I thought it would be just the lady who invited me, and myself. She had told me that she wanted us to get together one last time before I moved. Much to my surprise and glee, when I walked into the restaurant there was a lot of the ladies there that I’d grown to love so much over the past year. Needless to say, I got teary eyed and smiled a lot. It was so nice that they cared enough to do that.

The in-laws arrive today, they’re gracious enough to come and help with the move.

Sabrina Pixie Pleated Bag

I made this little guy today. I admit, I’m in love with this fantastic red corduroy. I do have a slight obsession with red as it is, but this corduroy is just so soft! I thought the name Sabrina would be a happy beautiful name, like Audry Hepburn in Sabrina, french souffles, and fantastic clothing. I'm definitely a fan.

It's for sale here

I think my computer is being cooperative today, so far very little angst (though it does kick up it’s tantrums later in the evenings). The sun is shining, there’s a beautiful afternoon sun. I enjoyed a fantastic brunch of French toast with raspberries and blueberries. It’s shaping up to be a lovely day.

I’ve been mentally planning the layout and look of the rooms in our soon-to-be new home. It requires a bit of imagination since I haven’t seen it at all yet. My dad has agreed to build me a cutting table which will likely double as a packaging table as well. It’ll have shelving and be fantastic for keeping everything organized. I’m a little giddy with the potential that comes from having my own sewing/studio space.

I hate saying good bye, there’s really nothing good about bye’s at all. I’ve already said good bye to a few of the youth here, and have to mentally prepare myself for more this week. We get the U-Haul next Monday, and will arrive at our destination late on Tuesday.

Hence, I must pack, and pack some more.

Blasted Computer

I bought a new laptop during Easter, or at least very close to that time. And it's driving me crazy, it freezes, refuses to do what I ask, stalls, and a million other frustrating uncooperative things. Hence I'm unable to post pictures of my new creations. I'm angry. I'll be back eventually.. when it decides that I'M boss once again.. how do you barter with a laptop? Bah!

Good Bye Philip

I spent much of yesterday sewing and shopping with my husband, browsing paint colours for the new home we’ll be occupying for the foreseeable future. I’m happy with our colour choices, and am pretty excited about decorating/nesting, though I’m very sad about leaving the people I’ve grown to love here.

Speaking of which, some of the girls came to visit and watch a movie with me last night, sadly our DVD player, (apparently his name is Philip, though he didn’t feel the desire to tell us that before last night) rather recklessly decided during the last 15 minutes of the particular movie we were viewing, to become an emancipated spirit, unbound to the slavery of playing our favourite DVD’s time and time again, at our every whim.

As much as we attempted to convince it otherwise, it would not agree to resume it’s former life. And hence took our DVD hostage, until we relented, opened Philip up with intense surgery, and allowed his spirit, or whatever it is that inhabits an electronic to give it life free of it’s circuit boards and metal cage, and then we wiggled our DVD from the lifeless cold clutches of the machine. One less thing to pack.

I made a few more of the weekend bags, as I’ve decided to term the design. I’ve just posted one in my etsy shop.


I'm excited about this bag, I love it. It's so hard to sell something that you labour over, and I have a weakness for bags anyway. I've named it after the Hebrew word Selah, it's one of my favorite words and I think it suits the style and look of this bag well. Check out the bag here for more info.
Have a happy Wednesday!

New Creations

I’ve really been putting a little more effort into my etsy site.
It’s truly exciting when I log in and realize I’ve sold one of my creations to someone in a far off location, though most purchases get shipped to the US or Canada (I’ve yet to actually sell something off of the North American continent, and yet I still dream).
I took yesterday to create two new patterns for my bags, I hope to show case them soon.
Here’s a sneak peak of one;




I’ve been trying to figure out a good name for it, seeing as I hope to be making a lot of these.
It may not appear to be true in the photo, but this is one large-put-everything-in-it-take-it-on-the-weekend-or-pile-a-load-of-books-in-it-and-drag-it-off-to-class-bag.
The opening at the top is 12.5-13 inches. The opening to the base of the bag, is 14.5-15 inches, the span of the base of the bag is a happy 18.5-19 inches. The width of the strap is a comfortable 1.5 inches and a length of 28 inches. If you’re medium to small frame you can actually put this bag across your shoulder and under your arm.
I’m in love. I can only regret that I didn’t have one like this, or the mind to make myself one when I was going from class to class and living in the library during my time at University.
I found some fantastically soft corduroy, black, brown and a beautiful vibrant red. I can’t wait to start cutting and sewing and shaping it into something useful.
In other news, looks as though my husband and I will be relocating: which is both devastating and thrilling at the same time. I hate to leave all of the beautiful people I’ve met here, but am looking forward to diving into the unknown once again. The house we’ll be living in is much larger then our current accommodations, which mean’s I’ll be securing my very own ‘studio/office’ area, to the relief of myself and poor Ryan who has very little room to live seeing my fabric and I take up most of the space here.

On another note, I'm happy to announce that 'The Goods' are being sold in two stores, the Downhome Shoppe on Water St in St. John's and Aloha Tans on Topsail Rd in St. John's.