Archives for January 2011

My Studio Tour…

Posted by on January 21, 2011
The Pleated Poppy is one of my favorite blogs! A friend of mine turned me on to it maybe this summer, and while it’s not embroidery or applique, I LOVE IT! It does have to do with fabric and sewing and blogging. She did a post this week ~ Studio Tour ~ which inspired me to do my own studio tour! Try not to be to jealous and try to contain your snickering…
I think we all know I work in my dining room? This actually looks pretty good! It’s usually a complete and total mess, moreso than below! Notice the football in the chair. 2 computers because I haven’t taken the time to move my new one in to the old one’s spot. This is why our house is for sale! While I LOVE being connected to our den and the kids *know* this is Mommy’s work area and they really don’t bother it, I long for the days of my own room (shared w/ Jeff and his computer) with at least *A* closet. Did I mention that since my house is for sale, all of my drawer bins (5 of them) are in my closet, so when I sew anything I have to make the trek to my closet. It’s a lot of back and forth. AND… when our house shows, all but the machine and computer (when I don’t move it too) have to be removed. The lighting is also pretty horrible and yellow!
Still loving my new computer! I also downloaded a trial version of Photoshop Elements on it. I just opened a picture in it and got scared. Looks pretty complicated? I currently use Photoscape and it’s so easy and free.
Need to do a shirt and can’t find just the right fabric? A plaid shirt from Walmart will do! I’ve cut and used shorts before but I thought the shirt was clever! Happy B-day Tate!
I also did this onesie for a customer. She explained that the little boy who will wear it was born with some health problems I think, and ever since he was born, Auburn has won all their games (they actually won all of them). SO… my customer wanted to give them this onesie and it turned out cute! It’s the AC Paw and I did the wording in MWP and then merged it all together in SWP.
This is the *fanny* of the onesie!
Have a great weekend! 30% off at www.appliquecafe.com ends SUNDAY!
P.S. Not much wordpress news! Chris is working on it but I decided to change my web design so he is waiting on that to happen before he can proceed! I’m SO excited about it and thrilled that I can change it up when I feel the need! The new one is so cute and Boutique Mama has been fabulous! I’ve e-mailed her about 27 times with questions about this and she’s been great! Chris has also been fabulous, as I have e-mailed him 54 times and he’s been great! Hopefully something will happen next week!
Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Design, Misc, Software | Tagged: Tagged With: ,

My Sample Owl

Posted by on January 19, 2011
I’ve had 4 e-mails today about the JUST BLANKS shirts I mentioned in yesterday’s post. I thought I said that I had a sample (the owl) available, but I guess it sounded more like “I have a box of Just Blank tees to sell”. As I replied to the e-mails, I really haven’t decided what to do with them yet. I bought them from a clothing line that was not going to use Just Blanks anymore. It was one of those ‘friend of a friend hook-up deals’ so I took advantage. At some point I will get the box out and take inventory and THEN decide if I have any to spare!? I honestly don’t know what all is in the box, what sizes, or what style (I think she sent short and long sleeved tees). Anyway… I DO have this sample Owl shirt in a size 4/5. The tag says “shrinkage is expected” but the shirt appears to be a good 5 to me? Here is a closeup of the OWL, which is not available yet on www.appliquecafe.com! This is a brand new design that will be listed possibly tonight.
And here is a picture of the shirt. It’s very soft thick cotton and has the ruffle on the sleeves and bottom. Again, size 4/5 and I’ willing to part with this one for $18 plus any shipping.
Just e-mail me if interested ~ rosemarygulledge@gmail.com.
**As noted on the top of my blog, wheels are in motion to switch over to a WORDPRESS blog! The domain has been picked and will CHANGE to www.appliquecafeblog.com. I had a really hard time deciding whether or not to change the domain from my name, and even asked some friends what they thought. This was my one chance to make the change so I decided to go for it! In hindsight, on that April day in 2008 when I decided to start a blog in the first place, I probably should have come up with something more cute or clever than my name! It’s worked for all these years (and who really cares?), but I figure why not take my name out of the equation while I have the chance! HOPEFULLY, all of my many posts, comments, pictures, etc. will all migrate over the new blog with little trouble. HOPEFULLY there will be little down time. I will keep everyone posted as best I can. If you aren’t familiar with wordpress, then check out some of the blogs on my blog list ~ www.amrart.com, www.lifeingraceblog.com, www.flythroughourwindow.com and http://thepleatedpoppy.com/blog/. My goal is to *organize* my blog better and spend more time on posts, maybe pick up some sponsors and still have links to the other important stuff (instead of it all being on the same page).
Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Design | Tagged: Tagged With:

More. Fabric.

Posted by on January 18, 2011
First of all this is one of my lovely assistants this morning. I like to take sample photos outside, preferably in good sunlight. Not so sunny today but better than inside. I had her hold the hoop up so that what little sunlight there is would shine on the applique! Don’t you love her pigtails?
My other lovely assistant (note For Sale sign above G’s head…sigh…see previous post). Owls are IN! We have 2 already and both are great designs. I’m loving this new one too which will be listed this week at www.appliquecafe.com! I also did this sample on a size 4/5 Just Blanks long sleeve ruffle tee (it has ruffles on the sleeves and bottom). If you’re interested in the shirt let me know! I have a box of these shirts (some short sleeves too) so I’m going to try to do samples on them when I can. Not sure what is in G’s mouth? Part of a cheese stick I think.
And now to my very (unplanned) trip up to Beth’s on Friday. I met a friend for coffee and then had 2 hours to kill and needed wanted some Spring-y Easter-y fabric, so I drove up and just happened to have my camera on me because I was heading to a Grandparent’s Luncheon at B’s school at 12:30. Perfect! Beth’s is sort of in Montgomery and sort of in Wetumpka. I’m really not sure and have not even noticed the address. I like to go there and also Caffco Floral Outlet all in one swoop. I get my clear bags from Caffco.
You may need to click to enlarge the photos to see the fabrics more closely. You don’t need to click and enlarge to see that Beth’s has EVERYTHING!! It is by far the best fabric store around these here parts! If you want ginghams, polka dots, Fabric Finders or basically any type of cute fabric, this is your one stop shop! Lots of dainty cute florals and as you can see (upper left) they also have all of the cute Fabric Finders team prints.
Polka dots and ginghams for days…. You can fill your fabric collection with every kind of floral or print fabric you like, but you cannot beat good ole ginghams and polka dots. I always tell people that appliques deal with such small spaces, so try to think that way when shopping. I have some BEAUTIFUL floral prints in my collection, but I always go back to polka dots, stripes and ginghams! Small florals work too!
These are NICE solids ~ (can’t think of the name/type fabric right off the top of my head).
Ginghams in every shade, color, size, price range you can imagine…
Fabric Finders team prints ~ Auburn and Alabama
I picked out a few dainty little florals, and then they told me about “upstairs”!! I had no idea upstairs existed, but evidently this is where the good stuff is! They have so much fabric that they can’t put it all downstairs ~ the lighter spring-y-er stuff was up here and I picked out several more… They also hold classes up there!
Click to enlarge if needed…
Did I mention they have fabric for days?
They also sell TONS of patterns, notions, buttons, blank bibs and burp cloths and other things, and if you look at the “cart” on the right side of the photo ~ in the bottom drawer they have tons of scraps which sell for 50cents each! It’s fun to dig through and see what’s in there! There are also a couple of classrooms to the right of this picture. They hold tons of classes. AND… Beth told me Friday they are also going to start selling  EMBROIDERY THREAD and some stabilizers! One stop shop!
Here are the fabrics I came home with ~ I’ve had my eye on this ric rac stripe!
I’ve never been a huge lavender or purple fan (except for that plum phase I went through about 12 years ago where I decorated my bedroom in all plum). Now that I have a girl I’m appreciating it more and these lavenders are so dainty and cute! I also like lavender with green.
Here are the floral prints I got and I just did the new owl in the paisley and it turned out CUTE! Again, applique = small spaces so the small florals work.
I thought these were both Spring-y and Easter-y. I saw the pastel tricheck on Facebook the other day so I was so glad when I found it!
I long for the day (hopefully soon) when I have a SEWING ROOM and I can organize all of my fabrics. I’m putting it off until then.
AC News: everything is 30% off (excluding gift certificates and “design on a dime” designs) until Sunday. I am working to sample a couple more new designs also so they will be listed ASAP. Reasons for this sale: everyone was buggin me asking for one, Auburn won the National Championship and we have EXCEEDED 3,000 Applique Cafe fans on Facebook!
Blog News: I spoke to a “guy” yesterday about the WordPress blog migration. I also got a quote from a guy who hosts one of the blogs on my list that I love. I’m hoping to work on this project and that the transition will be smooth with little “blog down time”. I’ll keep you posted…
Filed Under: Fabric, Family, Shopping | Tagged: Tagged With:
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