Shop, Sew or Crawl in Bed?

Posted by on December 7, 2011

It’s that crazy time of year we call “the Holidays”. We all have so much to do it’s hard to know where to start! Do I work on customer orders that have piled up, do I work on that last wreath that goes on the outside window, do I try to knock out some Christmas shopping and that long list of teacher gifts, or do I crawl back in bed? This week I’ve opted for work. I’ve done 6 tees today so far and am now working on AC samples. It was too cold and rainy to shop or run a single errand. Here are 4 shirts I did this week for a friend’s nephew. We had a hard time finding 3T shirts so these are the colors we came up with. I did Santa on navy last year and I liked it! I also like the tree truck colors on the blue shirt (both Old Navy). The gray and black were from Target I think, and I like the brown and red on the gray. Black is a tricky color to me always, but I like the tractor patch ~ the tires and initials tie in the black. These are all Applique Cafe designs, but I also do designs from other websites if that’s what my customer wants. 

Which brings me to one of my favorites!! This is the Raggy Angel from Embroidery-Boutique! I also LOVE her on this aqua tee (Garanimals from Walmart this year). I have also been asked where these dress forms came from, and I think E-bay (search “plastic dress form”)? They are plastic with hangers on them. I have 2 in 2 different sizes.

I used similar fabrics as the EB sample on her website. I think it turned out cute and this could be worn after Christmas.

We’re having a little fun with our elf, which we can’t remember what his name is? We have been racking our brains and we think his name is “Red Hawk”. Browder named him several years ago and no one remembers. If you have an elf, there are lots of great ideas on Pinterest as to what to do with him.

Next we have my SEWING TREE! I saw a similar tree on a blog a year or two ago and I finally broke down and bought a little tree from Hobby Lobby (50% off no doubt). I only have a few ornaments (it is hard to find sewing related ornaments – I looked at Joann, Michaels and Hobby Lobby with no luck this year). I cut up some fabric and tied that one. It’s pretty cute in person and I hope to add to my ornament collection. I think these came from Joann, but I saw none this year.

 

I LOVE ART!! I would fill my walls with paintings if I could. I also like to pretend I am artsy and can paint. Last night I went to Corks & Canvas with some friends. The theme was an angel, and I have to say I am slightly pleased with my painting! I’ve done corks & canvas one other time and it did not turn out so well. I really like this angel and it may even get hung somewhere? A bathroom maybe? It was a lot of fun and I’d love to do it again!! It’s kind of like sewing ~ total distraction from all the “stuff” in our busy lives! For 2 hours I focused on this canvas. I’d love to do it again, and Browder is now drawing the angel ~ maybe he & I need to go do it again!

I’m working on AC samples of new designs now. BYE!!

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Misc | Tagged:

nothing…

Posted by on November 30, 2011

I have absolutely nothing to post, but I thought I should say I’m still alive! We had a great Thanksgiving ~ Wed through Sun in Orange Beach. It’s the most wonderful time to be at the beach and we’ve been doing it since Browder was like a toddler. Great family time and a slow pace ~ a little shopping and go kart races, a little indoor swimming and a couple of great puzzles. I read a book (Hunger Games [book 1 only]) which is a rare thing. Lots of yummy food too and quality time with cousins and in-laws (we go w/ Jeff’s fam)!

Here is a picture of my lovely little assistant. Monday we did a few fun things on Facebook for Cyber Monday ~ free designs, a couple of refunds and yesterday we drew for a winner of a $20 AC gift certificate. Sissy drew the name and the winner received a voucher code for $20 off! You had to utilize the $5 off $20 special on Monday to be entered. Dorcas Jones was our winner, so happy shopping!!

Not much to report on the home front. We haven’t brought out the first Christmas decoration yet, but plan to do so this week. Below is our neighbor’s house. How do you compete with life size toy soldiers and swans? Our across-the-street  neighbor has some massive huge wrought iron toy soldiers in front of their house too. Something tells me slapping a wreath on the front door ain’t gonna cut it!

I guess I can share that Jeff is getting braces today! He has never had them, so I’ve tried to gently forewarn him of the pain that is surely ahead of him. I have sharp memories of not being able to eat, brackets jabbing in to mouth ulcers, wires poking in the back of my gums, etc. One of the bloggers I read recently got braces on her bottom teeth and jokes about sucking on potato ships. I told Jeff that I am afraid she was probably NOT joking! At least for the first several (4-5?) days. You might ask why he is getting braces ~ he’s never had them, decided he wanted them and in actuality here where we live we have several adult friends who have them or have had them recently. I had them as a teen, but need them again! Anyway, this should be interesting!!

AC shoppers – designs are 30% off through tomorrow! Have a great day and stay warm!!

p.s. no updates on the sewing room. I’m convinced I may not be happy until I paint the room? I have not painted the chairs yet and have not got Jeff’s bulletin board yet. The paint stuff is sitting in the garage, but it has been too windy (and now cold) to attempt anything!

Filed Under: Applique Cafe, Family, Misc | Tagged:

Thanks Blog Readers!

Posted by on November 2, 2011

 Let me start by saying THANKS to all my blog readers for all of the wonderful, fun, exciting suggestions you made for my sewing room! I enjoyed the links, comments, photos, etc. and it’s got me motivated to actually do something! These first few photos were sent to me by Joy Wood, and I asked her if I could post them. She suggested other people send me pics to post so we could all get inspired! If you’d like to do so, email me at rosemarygulledge@appliquecafe.com! I also have a Sewing Room Board on Pinterest.

I LOVE the fabric displayed like this, but I am so afraid I have TOO MUCH and it would take me 3 years to do this. I also love the framed pegboard! There is a white frame similar to this at one of my favorite spots in town, Eastbrook Flea Market. Might have to go check it out! It looks like this one holds a lot of thread. Joy also mentioned that she likes having her fabric and thread close at hand (to her machine). The ribbon display is nice too!!

A closer look at the framed pegboard. You’ll notice she has her hoops and fast frames hanging from the bottom which is nice and organized! It would be nice to hang scissors too.

I also noticed that she has what looks like a black & white polka dotted covered ironing board! That is definitely on my list of things to do. I found some tabletop ironing board covers on Etsy, but then after looking at my ironing board, I realized the cream fabric that came on it is simply stapled, so that’s what I’ll do (when I decide on fabric). I think I paid less than $10 for my ironing board with a coupon at Bed Bath & Beyond. I took the wire iron rack off of mine.

The definite consensus was to a) paint our chairs and b) recover them. I’m going to ask Jeff is he’s OK with that, because we have looked at black office type chairs that ROLL. If we decide we’re OK w/ keeping these chairs, then that’ll be at the top of my list. Also debating on painting my thread racks (if I didn’t do the framed pegboard) ~ at one point I thought the natural look matched the baskets in my cubbies, but have seen them painted too on Pinterest. Also need to hang my clock, the picture of my precious children, and Jeff’s golf ball display. Hey, he needs SOMETHING that is HIS hobby since technically this is his office too….. Other suggestions were to get a matching bulletin board for his side and hoop some fabric in some embroidery frames (as seen on Pinterest – search “embroidery hoop”). Thanks for all of the great suggestions! Keep them coming!

I wanted to also share a few pics of Sissy’s bedroom. The green linen euro shams came yesterday, so all of her “bedding” is complete. As you can see by the pictures, I have the same fear-of-hanging issue as in our sewing room/office. A lady in town made her bed skirt, bolster pillow, euro shams and also the valance over her windows. The curtains came from the previous homeowner (and also matched her nursery fabric, which means all of her wall hangings will match!!)

I LOVE how it all turned out, and will probably look much better when I hang something on the wall. Her shower curtain is the same floral fabric as the bolster.

I, of course, monogrammed the shams. The only thing lacking in her room now is a dresser and a mirror for her bathroom. I feel like when I have those things on hand, I can actually F-I-N-I-S-H her room. The matelasse is from Ballard Designs (actually Ballard’s Backroom in Atlanta). For some reason I can’t commit to hanging anything until she has a dresser….

Thanks again for all the GREAT comments and suggestions! I’m making mental notes of all of them! I’ll keep you all posted on my progress…

Filed Under: Design, Misc | Tagged:
« Previous Page
Next Page »