Archives for July 2011

Working!

Posted by on July 28, 2011

I am doing VERY LITTLE work right now (at least until school starts and the kitchen reno is under way). I’ve done a few things this week for a couple of friends and remembered to take pictures! These backpacks/lunchboxes are Buckhead Betties and they were fabric covered in vinyl (easy cleanup!). When I got them I was a little afraid of how hard they’d be to monogram, but they were pretty easy! I used my Fast Frames, sticky stabilizer and I did have to pin them in place (so a few pin holes in the vinyl that you barely notice). Henry & Harris are my friend’s twins and I think they are 2+, so she wanted a mini design on them so they could tell their backpacks apart since they can’t read! The minis came from Applique Momma and I think all in all these turned out CUTE!

Today I dusted off the ole sewing machine, which is an el cheapo E-bay Brother special I bought when Browder was like a year old (so 7+years ago). Notice the tape holding the bottom plate in place! It took me 30 minutes to locate the machine, and then find the cord. I had a baby gift to do today so I took a poll on Facebook and the majority said I needed to sew something (ribbon or fabric) on an end. It turned out cute (see down below – pics are out of order).

I also bought these today at Michael’s, as all of their “crafting furniture and accessories” are 50% at my local Michaels store. These were $12.49 each! I was going to do the big sheet of peg board, but I think I’m going this route, and I got the ribbon holder for stabilizer (and may go get 1 more). I like the little shelf space on it too for my jars!

I think I’m going to hang them like this on the wall in between my 2 windows. My plan is to hang my 5000M spools on the peg board and other things. I apologize for the HORRIBLE picture! It’s cloudy here with bad lighting! I will post a picture when I get it all hung! I might even paint my thread stands black or something to match the bulletin board from the other day’s post! I have a picture of some painted black on my Pinterest Sewing Room Board.

Here is the baby gift I did today. I found the cute striped bib at a new store in town called Embellish! There is no tag on it or else I’d be trying to find some! I did the AC Giraffe 2 on the burp. Giraffes are cute for babies I think! Anyway, I thought it turned out cute! I haven’t done any burp cloths in a LONG TIME! p.s. I like 4×6 ply burp cloths from Embroider This. They are thick, nice, soft and even (some are crazy on the ends).

Gotta go! We are heading to the lake shortly and I’m blogging!! p.s. Did you notice I added the Pinterest button under my Follow Me tab? I have about as many followers on there as I do on Twitter! Have a great weekend! We will hopefully be celebrating 6,000 fans on Facebook soon! 🙂

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Design, Products, Shopping | Tagged:

Don’t Try This at Home Kids!

Posted by on July 27, 2011

 Yesterday I had to monogram a HUGE cooler bag for a friend. For the first time ever, I see why a real 6 needle machine stand comes in handy! The bulky bag was too much and too wide and too stiff to go in between the machine sitting on a table. Solution: I need the machine to straddle on 2 tables so there is space underneath. I don’t recommend this and we moved it back to the table right after I did the bag, but it worked!

As you can see the excess of the bag is hanging in between the 2 tables. It was a wide bag, and very stiff. Most bags are flexible and you can cram them in between the machine on a table.

At this point I was praying and crossing my fingers and toes! It’s always scary doing a big bag such as this (and especially after my luck with the bunk pouches recently. It turned out great, and unfortunately I didn’t take a picture of the end result! I did a big lime green “G” on this pocket!

While I was doing the bag, Sissy was doing this…

She has rearranged all of my thread 8 times, and likes to pick out what colors are “hers” (i.e.: usually all the PINKS).

I have 3 thread stands now and hopefully next week they’ll be up on the wall (and out of reach!). I have the perfect place for them and pegboard, so I can also hang my big 5000M spools. I looked at pegboard today at Lowe’s and it was $16 for huge sheet. I can’t decide if I want to go that route, or buy a 3 pack of square pegboard from Michael’s!

Here is a picture of the bulletin board after we hung it! My desk is still a mess (and notice the McD Frappe).

Right now I’m monogramming fabric-covered-in-vinyl Buckhead Betties lunchboxes & backpacks. Another one of those projects where I hold my breath and pray that nothing messes up! I will try to remember to take pictures of them! I’m doing a name, and then a mini design also so the twins who they belong to can tell them apart!

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, How To | Tagged:

Applique Cafe Designs

Posted by on July 26, 2011

 Today I purchased my first “sewing room” item from my (long) wish list. The disorganization (stuff all over the floor, piled on my desk, etc) is driving me crazy! Browder & I went to Hobby Lobby and I came out with the below BULLETIN BOARD. I know you can purchase great  bulletin boards from Hobby Lobby and elsewhere, and I think I even posted a photo of one a while back. But… have you ever done a pushpin test? Some bulletin boards that you purchase don’t even have enough cork board to hold a pin. We have one in our kitchen, and if you walk past it whatever you have pinned is liable to fall out. SO…. today I purchased a 24″ x 36″ plain cork board from HL ($16.99). I did a pushpin test and the pin sticks all the way in to the cork board securely. Does this make sense? Then, I meandered over to the open frame aisles (which were 50% off) and purchased one suitable for a 24″ x 36″ picture. I asked the lady working there if she thought it would work, because the cork board was a HAIR smaller than inside the frame, and she then proceeded to put it together for me, filling in the small gaps with some type of foam strips so that it fit, stapled it in place, covered the back with paper, put hangers & wire on it and then I just paid for it. It was close to $50, but I think you could do one a little cheaper (or more expensive depending on your frame). I didn’t realize until I got up to the front that their coupon for this week was not the usual 40% off which I could have used on the cork board. It was all put together so there was nothing I could do! This is a pretty simple black frame, but they also had tons of different styles to chose from. I didn’t think the sewing room needed anything too fancy! I’m excited to hang it over my desk and get rid of a little of the clutter (notes, business cards, etc.)

Last night someone posted on Facebook that they saw several Applique Cafe designs on the Rags Land Facebook page. I found it and low (liked it) and behold right up top were these pictures! Long story short, I emailed Rags Land and they did in fact purchase some of our designs for their Fall/Winter clothing line!! This is great news for Applique Cafe and our customers, as you can reproduce Rags Land tees for a fraction of what they charge ($37+ shipping/tax)! I found these 9 that they used. Their Production Manager said they do not sell more than 250 shirts of each design, so they are safe with our new store policies.

 

 

 

 

 

They also used designs from Embroidery Boutique and Applique Momma. We’re scratching our head as to why they’d purchase designs that anyone can purchase, but I guess it’s good for us!

We’re in the process of re-uploading water marked photos to our website and Facebook page! I’ve been wanting to do this and found an easy program to watermark them. Now it’s just a matter of re-uploading them.

I’m also working on sampling new designs ~ I’ve done 2 and lack 2 and we will post those soon! We’re approaching our 2nd anniversary (or birthday?) as well as 6,000 fans on FACEBOOK!  Woo Hoo!

p.s. Check out my Sewing Room board on Pinterest! I’m gathering neat ideas for sewing rooms.

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Design, Shopping | Tagged:
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